Edward Benson, Ph.D., patriarch of the Benson clan of Edina, Liberia, got "his password to go home" on January 11, 2015 in Lansing, MI at the age of 84. Ed was born on February 8, 1930 in Edina, Liberia to Joseph A. Benson and Mary A. Mitchell. He is survived by his wife, MaryLea Mann Benson of Lansing, MI; son, Edward Lawrence "Poncho" Benson (Angela) of Knoxville, TN; daughters, Shaun Hillary Benson Frazier of Bowie MD and Michelle Benson (Jeffery Lippert) of LaVista, NE; grandchildren Langston and Dorian Frazier, and Malia Jade Benson; sisters Mai Benson DeShield of Monrovia, Liberia; Enid Benson and Nellie Benson Sidifall both of Reston VA; former wives Sadye Houchins and Jeanne Baugh and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Joseph V. Benson, Dr. Henrique "Henry" Benson, and John Benson and several sisters Julia Benson Wesley, Adelaide Johnson, Marion Johnson, Cerue Dunn Darby, and Alliette Benson Jones. Ed graduated high school from the College of West Africa in 1951. After graduation he worked as a clerk at the American Bank in Monrovia, Liberia. In 1954 he came to East Lansing on a Liberian government scholarship where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Michigan State University. In 1958, he married Sadye Houchins, and having completed his bachelor degree, he returned to Liberia. Then with his wife and new son, he came back to the United States where he earned a Master of Science Silviculture from the University of New York at Syracuse University. Their daughter, Shaun, was born in Syracuse, NY and the family returned to Liberia where Ed helped set up the school of Forestry at the University of Liberia and became the Dean of Forestry. In 1967, after much internal debate, he returned with his family to East Lansing where he completed the following degrees from Michigan State University: Master of Business Administration in 1969, Master of Labor and Industrial Relations in 1971, and Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education in 1974. After graduating with his Ph.D., Ed remained in East Lansing and became a citizen of his adopted country. He then began work for varied levels of state and city government. His first position was in 1970 in Governor Milliken's Executive Office followed by the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Social Services, and retired from State service from the Department of Corrections in 1997. During those 27 years, he also worked for the City of Highland Park and Northville. In 1989, he married for a third and final time to MaryLea Mann: they have a daughter, Michelle. In 2001, Ed started part-time work for the federal government knowing he was soon going to be "fired" from his chauffeuring position when his youngest daughter, Michelle, received her driver license in 2004. He finally retired from a full-time position with the federal government in 2012, but didn't stop interviewing for high ranking government jobs until MaryLea retired in February 2014. After moving Michelle to Omaha in May 2014, Ed and MaryLea continued to travel the country until his health became an obstacle in the fall. In reflection to his youngest daughter during her visit over New Years, Ed grinned and said "I just loved to work." During his last hospital stay, Ed had a talk with "a man I trusted" about needing a password to go through a door. On the morning of his death he received all the passwords he needed and was invited to go through the door. Ed also loved to question things and often questioned his faith with far reaching in-depth questions. Ed was passionate about his Spartans and loved his entire family dearly. He was an active and dedicated member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and sang in the choir for more than 30 years. He was active in the community holding positions on numerous boards including the following: Greater Lansing Housing Coalition; United Way; Michigan Association of Governmental Employees (Labor Relations); State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, a gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation; State Personnel Agency Board, a gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation; Special Committee on Maintenance of Licensure, Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, Inc., Dallas, Texas; Neighborhood Watch Coordinator; and at his death he was an active member of the City of Lansing Police & Fireman Retirement Board. In closing, Ed would have been proud to announce that this spring, Michelle will be graduating with her Bachelor of Business in Marketing from Davenport University, and that Langston and Dorian will be graduating high school with acceptances to University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Michigan State University and several others. A wake will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 6:00-8:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church 218 W. Ottawa St, Lansing MI. A funeral is scheduled for February 8, 2015 at 1:00 pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with a reception to follow. The Rev. Karen L. Lewis will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ed's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Edward Benson's name to St. Paul's Episcopal Church; Hospice of Lansing at 4052 Legacy Pkwy., Ste. 200, Lansing, MI 48911; or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach CA 90266 (877) 272-6226 (www.pancan.org). Condolences may be sent to the family through the Riley Funeral Home website. MaryLea and Michelle would like to thank their family and friends for their support through this ordeal as well as the wonderful caregivers from Hospice of Lansing for their dedication to the care of all their patients especially to Ed and his family. Memories and condolences can be shared at rileyfuneralhome.com.