She was born on July 28, 1925 to John and Minnie (Johnson) Iverson. She attended school in Soldiers Grove and graduated in 1943. After graduation, Carolyn began working as a secretary for Will Ward Insurance Co. She was quite the entrepreneur, and while many young men were going off to war during the peak of WWII, Carolyn began her career in retail marketing. She opened her first clothing store called “Carolyn’s Young and Gay.” The reoccurring floods of the Kickapoo River, caused her to move to a different location, but it was the devastating flood of 1951 that nearly wiped out the little town of Soldiers Grove, and put an end to many local businesses. After watching the store mannequin, the latest fashions, and her days earnings, (safely stored in a “girdle box”) float down the Kickapoo River, she decided to close up shop.
She married Larry Benson on December 28, 1950 and they moved to Memphis, TN in 1951 where Gary was born. They soon moved to Benton, AR where Larry began his career as a mining engineer for Reynolds Aluminum, and Carolyn would start up in the retail clothing business again. Her stores in Benton included The Kiddie Koral, The Penthouse, and Carolyn’s Casual Cove. She had a flair for fashion, and decorating. One of the most talked about attractions was when she hung the Christmas tree upside down in the store front window.
In 1969, Larry’s job took them to British Guyana. Carolyn was not real keen on spending 2 years in the middle of the jungle, but learned to love the people, the culture and the music. An appreciation for calypso and steel drum music continued with her and Gary to this day. Carolyn loved to sing and dance, and could pick up a mic and sing “Won’t you come home Bill Bailey” at the drop of a hat. She did Karaoke long before anyone knew what that was!
Upon returning to the United States, she and Larry moved to Denver, CO. It was there that Carolyn began a career in real estate. In 1974 they moved to St. Louis, MO. Carolyn loved to entertain and her doors were always open to friends and family alike. She went up in the St. Louis “Arch” 47 times, as she insisted everyone that came to visit, must see all the treasures St. Louis had to offer.
After retirement, Larry and Carolyn moved to LaCrosse, WI where they enjoyed living on the Mississippi River, renewing old friendships, and spending time with family. Carolyn eventually returned to her hometown of Soldiers Grove.
She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary Wm. Schoville Post 220 of Soldiers Grove, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry, grandson, Daysun, and brothers, Roger, David and Edward and sister in law, Helen (Sproul) Iverson.
She married Larry Benson on December 28, 1950 and they moved to Memphis, TN in 1951 where Gary was born. They soon moved to Benton, AR where Larry began his career as a mining engineer for Reynolds Aluminum, and Carolyn would start up in the retail clothing business again. Her stores in Benton included The Kiddie Koral, The Penthouse, and Carolyn’s Casual Cove. She had a flair for fashion, and decorating. One of the most talked about attractions was when she hung the Christmas tree upside down in the store front window.
In 1969, Larry’s job took them to British Guyana. Carolyn was not real keen on spending 2 years in the middle of the jungle, but learned to love the people, the culture and the music. An appreciation for calypso and steel drum music continued with her and Gary to this day. Carolyn loved to sing and dance, and could pick up a mic and sing “Won’t you come home Bill Bailey” at the drop of a hat. She did Karaoke long before anyone knew what that was!
Upon returning to the United States, she and Larry moved to Denver, CO. It was there that Carolyn began a career in real estate. In 1974 they moved to St. Louis, MO. Carolyn loved to entertain and her doors were always open to friends and family alike. She went up in the St. Louis “Arch” 47 times, as she insisted everyone that came to visit, must see all the treasures St. Louis had to offer.
After retirement, Larry and Carolyn moved to LaCrosse, WI where they enjoyed living on the Mississippi River, renewing old friendships, and spending time with family. Carolyn eventually returned to her hometown of Soldiers Grove.
She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary Wm. Schoville Post 220 of Soldiers Grove, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry, grandson, Daysun, and brothers, Roger, David and Edward and sister in law, Helen (Sproul) Iverson.
She was born on July 28, 1925 to John and Minnie (Johnson) Iverson. She attended school in Soldiers Grove and graduated in 1943. After graduation, Carolyn began working as a secretary for Will Ward Insurance Co. She was quite the entrepreneur, and while many young men were going off to war during the peak of WWII, Carolyn began her career in retail marketing. She opened her first clothing store called “Carolyn’s Young and Gay.” The reoccurring floods of the Kickapoo River, caused her to move to a different location, but it was the devastating flood of 1951 that nearly wiped out the little town of Soldiers Grove, and put an end to many local businesses. After watching the store mannequin, the latest fashions, and her days earnings, (safely stored in a “girdle box”) float down the Kickapoo River, she decided to close up shop.
She married Larry Benson on December 28, 1950 and they moved to Memphis, TN in 1951 where Gary was born. They soon moved to Benton, AR where Larry began his career as a mining engineer for Reynolds Aluminum, and Carolyn would start up in the retail clothing business again. Her stores in Benton included The Kiddie Koral, The Penthouse, and Carolyn’s Casual Cove. She had a flair for fashion, and decorating. One of the most talked about attractions was when she hung the Christmas tree upside down in the store front window.
In 1969, Larry’s job took them to British Guyana. Carolyn was not real keen on spending 2 years in the middle of the jungle, but learned to love the people, the culture and the music. An appreciation for calypso and steel drum music continued with her and Gary to this day. Carolyn loved to sing and dance, and could pick up a mic and sing “Won’t you come home Bill Bailey” at the drop of a hat. She did Karaoke long before anyone knew what that was!
Upon returning to the United States, she and Larry moved to Denver, CO. It was there that Carolyn began a career in real estate. In 1974 they moved to St. Louis, MO. Carolyn loved to entertain and her doors were always open to friends and family alike. She went up in the St. Louis “Arch” 47 times, as she insisted everyone that came to visit, must see all the treasures St. Louis had to offer.
After retirement, Larry and Carolyn moved to LaCrosse, WI where they enjoyed living on the Mississippi River, renewing old friendships, and spending time with family. Carolyn eventually returned to her hometown of Soldiers Grove.
She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary Wm. Schoville Post 220 of Soldiers Grove, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry, grandson, Daysun, and brothers, Roger, David and Edward and sister in law, Helen (Sproul) Iverson.
She married Larry Benson on December 28, 1950 and they moved to Memphis, TN in 1951 where Gary was born. They soon moved to Benton, AR where Larry began his career as a mining engineer for Reynolds Aluminum, and Carolyn would start up in the retail clothing business again. Her stores in Benton included The Kiddie Koral, The Penthouse, and Carolyn’s Casual Cove. She had a flair for fashion, and decorating. One of the most talked about attractions was when she hung the Christmas tree upside down in the store front window.
In 1969, Larry’s job took them to British Guyana. Carolyn was not real keen on spending 2 years in the middle of the jungle, but learned to love the people, the culture and the music. An appreciation for calypso and steel drum music continued with her and Gary to this day. Carolyn loved to sing and dance, and could pick up a mic and sing “Won’t you come home Bill Bailey” at the drop of a hat. She did Karaoke long before anyone knew what that was!
Upon returning to the United States, she and Larry moved to Denver, CO. It was there that Carolyn began a career in real estate. In 1974 they moved to St. Louis, MO. Carolyn loved to entertain and her doors were always open to friends and family alike. She went up in the St. Louis “Arch” 47 times, as she insisted everyone that came to visit, must see all the treasures St. Louis had to offer.
After retirement, Larry and Carolyn moved to LaCrosse, WI where they enjoyed living on the Mississippi River, renewing old friendships, and spending time with family. Carolyn eventually returned to her hometown of Soldiers Grove.
She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary Wm. Schoville Post 220 of Soldiers Grove, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Larry, grandson, Daysun, and brothers, Roger, David and Edward and sister in law, Helen (Sproul) Iverson.
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