Katherine Young Benson

GORHAM - Katherine Young Benson died on October 16, 2022 at 95 years of age. She was born on January 3, 1927 on the Young family farm in Gorham to Edward L. and Lillian Young. Katherine (Kay or Kathy) graduated from Gorham High School in 1944 and from Gorham State Teachers College in 1947. During her studies there, she met Alton H. “Benny” Benson and the pair were married on June 21, 1947 at the Young family farm. They began their life together in Southwest Harbor, where Katherine taught 1st grade and Benny taught Industrial Arts at the high school. They moved back to Gorham to begin their lifelong career in agriculture, for which they shared a mutual passion. They purchased their farm in 1953 from Katherine’s father and named it Kay-Ben Farm, where they developed one of the first herds of registered purebred Holsteins in the state. Their work earned several notable accolades including the Progressive Breeder’s Registry Award and the 1967 New England Green Pastures Award. Their legacy at Kay-Ben Farm is continued by the Benson family today, and it remains a successful part of Maine’s agricultural industry. In addition to dairy cattle, Kathy and Benny were committed to forestry and conservation, successfully managing over 100 acres of woodland and starting maple syrup production. Their work received the Outstanding Conservation Farmer award from the Cumberland County Soil Conservation District in 1959. Katherine was also active in many community organizations, including over 60 years in the Maine Cooperative Extension Homemakers Council, Gorham School Building Committee, and the Gorham Historical Society. She was named an Outstanding Homemaker in Maine in 1979. Katherine lived a life of quiet strength, resiliency, and fortitude. She was meticulous and detail-oriented in everything she undertook. She was remarkably capable and diverse in her skills and interests. Only she could run a baler during the day, milk cows in the afternoon, cook dinner for a family of 8, and end the day playing “Rhapsody in Blue” on her piano. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and despite the large size of her family, was always able to keep track of all of their various activities and interests in a way that demonstrated her affection for them. Katherine is survived by her daughter, Sally Moore and husband, Bill of Limington; daughter, Mary Emerson of Gorham; son, Alton “Bud” Benson and wife, Pam of Gorham; daughter-in-law, Rebekah Benson of Gorham; daughter-in-law, Karen Benson of Gorham; and son, Thomas Benson and wife, Doreen of Gorham; in addition to 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Alton H. Benson Jr, and sons, Edward Benson and Robert Benson. A private burial will be held by the family at Eastern Cemetery in Gorham. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the 4-H Foundation. Make checks payable to: Maine 4-H Foundation. Mail to: York Complex #1 Orono, ME 04469.

Katherine Young Benson

January 3, 1927 - October 16, 2022

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