Jane Sanders Benson

Jane Sanders Benson, 93, of Reisterstown, died May 1, 2020 at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster. Born January 23, 1927, in Four Oaks, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Snead Sanders and Jennings Grace Bryan Sanders. She was pre-deceased in 2012 by her husband of 64 years, Gilbert Silas Benson. She is survived by four children and five grandchildren: Sande and her husband Bill Dyott and son Jeff Somers of Annapolis; Steve and his wife Celia Stahl and son Luke of Baltimore; Tom and his wife Michelle Marozik and son Otto of Brooklyn, NY; and Bryan and his wife Sue of Glyndon and their daughters Emily, and her husband Michael Hamill of Alexandria, Va., and Grace, and her husband Josh Offutt of Baltimore. Jane is also survived by a brother, Phil, and his wife Judy, and sisters-in-law Anne Sanders and Julia Sanders Miller. She was pre-deceased by her infant son, Michael, and two brothers, Fletcher and Tom.

Jane owned Butler House, a store on the corner of Butler and Falls Roads in Butler, Maryland, from 1969 to 1986, when she retired. She was a member of Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Reisterstown, the United Methodist Women, and the Glyndon Woman's Club. Jane was a role model for her children and grandchildren. She was a skilled card player, and particularly liked bridge, canasta, hand-in-foot, and solitaire.

Jane grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina. She graduated from Four Oaks School in 1944 and from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1948 with a degree in mathematics. She and Si (from nearby N.C. State) were college sweethearts. They married after graduation and moved to Si's home state of Maryland.

Jane started her career as a math teacher and stopped working to raise her children. She put her sewing skills to use making many of the children's clothes, as well as curtains and furniture slipcovers. She even braided a few rugs for the house. When her youngest child, Bryan, was in elementary school, Jane went into business, buying the Butler House and selling hand-made wrap skirts and other clothing, as well as gift items, antiques, and penny candy.

In her retirement, Jane made quilts, starting with one for each of her grandchildren. She enjoyed reading, entertaining, spending winters with Si in New Smyrna Beach, Fl., and most of all, spending time with family. She was dearly loved and will be missed.

Due to COVID19, a private funeral will be held at this time. Should friends desire, donations in Jane's memory may be made to the Maryland Food Bank. Please visit https://mdfoodbank.org/donate.