ALPENA — Eulah Benson is turning 100 today, and her family is celebrating the milestone in the way she has approached life: with hard work, family, faith and a willingness to find a way forward.
Benson’s birthday party is scheduled for today at JJ’s Steak and Pizza House, where surprise entertainment, friends, church members and relatives traveling from Georgia and Tennessee will gather. Much of her family still lives in Alpena, including her sons William “Benny” Benson Jr. and Robert “Bob” Benson, grandchildren and several great- and great-great-grandchildren.
To her granddaughter Robin Benson, the birthday is a chance to honor a woman whose influence reaches well beyond her immediate household.
“The first thing that comes to mind is her capability to do almost anything and her enormous sense of kindness toward others,”
Robin said. She described her grandmother as strong, wise and kind, while making clear that Benson has never been easily pushed around.
“She is strong, wise and kind, but not a pushover. She is the matriarch of our family.”
From Detroit to a life in Alpena
Born Eulah Bean to Gus and Reba Bean, Benson left Detroit for Atlanta, Michigan, as a toddler. She settled in Alpena when she was about 3 or 4 years old. Family members say she can still identify homes and buildings that stood during her childhood, remember who lived in them and point out where she first saw William Benson Sr.
She decided when she was young that he would become her husband. The two married in 1943 and eventually raised three sons: William “Benny” Benson Jr., Robert Benson and John Benson. John died a few years ago, while William Sr. died in July 1999. Benny and Bob continue to live in Alpena.
The couple also helped raise Robin. Today, grandson Jon Benson, who owns JJ’s Steak and Pizza House, is known for taking especially good care of his grandmother. Robin lives across the street and jokes that she is there to keep Benson out of trouble.
A working life before and after the business
In 1948, Eulah and William Benson Sr. started Alpena Vending Inc. They operated the company until 2002, with Eulah working alongside her husband at a time when many women were expected to remain at home.
She also raised a family while making time for woodworking, building, ceramics, gardening, yard work, spoon collecting and playing piano and organ. Her family still repeats one of her guiding sayings:
“If you want to do something bad enough, you’ll find a way,”
Robin said. Another phrase, more often associated with William Sr., was “Get to work.” Those expectations shaped the family’s values, Robin said.
“She and my grandfather were hard workers — she still is within her capacity — and passed on that value to everyone in the family. You had to work for what you had, and that included everyone.”
Robin said Benson supported her husband through World War II and one of her sons through the Vietnam War. She remained at the center of family celebrations, important milestones and difficult periods.
Travel, technology and the Purple Lady
During the 1970s and 1980s, the couple spent winters in Kissimmee and later Ruskin, Florida. Benson later traveled internationally with her son John, visiting Italy, France and England.
Technology has been one of the biggest changes she has experienced, Robin said. Benson uses Facebook, reads on a Kindle and recently rode with a friend named Graham to get ice cream in his Tesla.
Her typical day now includes reading, word searches, conversation and visits with family, church and church events, occasional shopping and television programs on the History Channel and PBS. She walks daily, either outside or on a treadmill. A pet canary given to her as a birthday present has become a favorite companion.
Benson also has a well-known fondness for chocolate, especially chocolate and peanut butter, and for the color purple. Members of her church know her as the Purple Lady.
Robin said her grandmother is empathetic and kind, and regularly encourages others to learn from life’s experiences.
“She always reminds you to look for the lesson in all things.”
As the family gathers to celebrate her 100th birthday, Robin said Benson remains positive, rarely complains and continues to show the resilience that has carried her through difficult health issues.
The family is not trying to reduce a century to a single party or a simple summary. Instead, they are following the example Benson has given them for generations: show up, bring the family and find a way to celebrate.