Cheryl Rae Alecksen Benson
Sept. 13, 1947-June 16, 2021
Pleasanton, California

Our beautiful and beloved Momma, Cheryl Rae Alecksen Benson, left us here on Earth and rejoined the love of her life on Wednesday June 16, 2021.

When you hear the stories of someone dying of a broken heart, that is exactly what she did. She lived an incredible and fulfilled life but inevitably after the recent passing of her husband of 51 years, John Anthony Benson, her heart was never the same.

She is survived by her devoted daughters; Sydne Benson Roth and Jordon Benson (both residing in Pleasanton). Her three hippity-hoppity’s; Holland Roth (12), Brooklyn Benson (8), and Tyson Roth (6). Her youngest Sister (of 5 siblings), Beth Bloom; to include John’s surviving Sisters, Antonet O'Toole and Anna Benson. And many more important extended family members and close friends.

Cheryl was born in Manitowoc, WI, to Vernon and Ruth Alecksen. She was the third of six siblings. After graduating high school, she hopped on an Amtrak train for a two-week CA visit to her cousins in San Jose, and never returned. She met John while he was working at Lucky’s as a cashier. He took her number off of her check and their incredible love story began. They married in Dec 1968. He was in the Marine Reserves. She was a stewardess for United Airlines. They lived in San Diego and Daly City. They had many fun years of travels; cross country on their Honda CB750 and throughout Europe for 6 months. In 1974 they left Daly City and moved to Pleasanton to open The Hungry Hunter (on Hopyard Rd when it was nothing but cows). She was a cocktail waitress and he was the manager. She became pregnant with Sydne shortly thereafter. Two years later, John started his freelance Photography business and she had their second daughter, Jordon. They moved onto Second St in 1980 where she resided until 2020, when she then moved only a ½ mile away so she could stay close by to her community and her girls.

She built a beautiful, warm and loving home and life for her family. Her kindness radiated wherever she went. She had many jobs but of her most passionate was being Momma/Grandma Tinkerpot/Lala Rae, wife, and working at Towne Center Books for 15 years. She loved fresh flowers and was an avid reader. You could find her reading either in front of the fireplace or in the afternoon sunshine on the side porch – her “perch”. She loved with all of her heart and made sure you knew; with her sweet and thoughtful notes, either by mail or on post it’s. She made sure everyone that came into her home felt “at home”. She was a wonderful cook and made everything “with love”. She loved being barefoot. She was a hippy at heart. She was silly, funny and witty. She was devoted, thoughtful and kind. Her favorite colors were pink and yellow. She looked forward to doing the ‘Word Jumble’ every morning. She made birthdays extra special, and loved ‘taking the whole month’ to celebrate hers. She was active in racquetball at the then ‘Tennis Town’ and did aerobics at the Pleasanton Veterans Hall for many years. She adored and appreciated her downtown Pleasanton community until the end.

She cherished her family and close friends dearly. Her most important things in life were her husband, two girls and three grandbabies. She will be missed more than words can express. A huge hole is left in our hearts but we are whole knowing she is reunited with “her John” and they will be carefree and at peace together for Eternity!