Arnold Wayne Benson

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE PENDING.

Arnold Wayne Benson was born in Auburn, Nebraska, on February 18, 1932, and passed away on November 12, 2026. Wayne attended public school through High School and then graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1953, followed by theological studies at McCormick Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.A. in Christian Education in 1961. He later earned a Doctorate of the Science of Theology from San Fransico Theological Seminary in 1974. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1956 and served as pastor of rural churches, suburban churches, organizing pastor of a new church, associate pastor, and interim pastor of several churches. These churches are in Colorado, California, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. He served in several interchurch roles including Moderator of two Presbyteries and Moderator of the Synod of Colorado. He also served in “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks” (in Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado) for two summers.

A side-occupation was writing, and he especially enjoyed composing new verses for hymns and writing poetry. A partial collection of these was published (as Wayne’s Writings of Note) by the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn (Illinois) in 1984. He also had 4 published articles (two religious, and two genealogical). Wayne spent hours in tracking down his ancestors. This interest started because of his curiosity about whether he had any ministers on his family tree. He found at least five! He also discovered that his children and step children are 10th cousins, through their mothers.

Wayne was active in The Association of Interim Ministry Specialists (APIMS). In 1999 APIMS awarded him a Distinguished Service Award along with a lifetime membership. He was also active in the Hearing Loss Association of America. In 2007 he was awarded a Certificate of appreciation for valuable contributions to the Hearing Loss Association of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert V. Benson and Thelma E. Gergens Benson; a brother, Sterling; a sister, Karen; and his son, Kent Kevin Benson. He is survived by his wife Arlene G. Taylor. He is also survived by two daughters: Kathleen Benson (and her husband, Thomas Garis, and her three children, Erin, Robert, and Cara), and Kerry Benson (and her husband, Jack Mulligan, and her daughter, Alexandra); two granddaughters (Kathryn and Kimberly, daughters of Kent); five great grandchildren; a step-daughter, Deborah Dowell (and her wife Christina Bernstein), a step-son, Jonathan Dowell (and his wife Shana Dowell); and three step-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Lloyd Lynn Benson (and his wife Marsi Benson), and several nieces and nephews.