Lorraine Rowley Thompson (born 1952) is the great-great granddaughter of Richard and Phoebe Benson through their son, Alvin.

The Benson family were early Latter-day Saint pioneers from England.

Richard Benson (1816-1895) was born on March 29, 1816, in Wrightington, England to Thomas Benson and Margaret Marsden. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1837 by Elder Heber C. Kimball. Richard served his first mission in Newcastle, England from approximately 1841 to 1842, where he baptized forty-seven people including his future wife Phoebe Forrester. Phoebe Benson (1820-1904) was born Phoebe Forrester on August 25, 1820, in Crossings, England to Joseph Forester and Elizabeth Forester. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in October 1840. After his mission Richard traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois to be with the main body of the church. In 1844 he returned to England and married Phoebe on June 20, 1844, in Cheshire, England, and in 1845 they returned to Nauvoo. They traveled with the saints to Salt Lake City in approximately 1850, and they settled in Parowan, Utah, where they had the last of their nine children. They are Thomas, Joseph, Richard Heber, Sarah, Phoebe Madora, William, Elizabeth, Alvin, and James. Then in 1866 Richard was called to serve his second mission in England, which he did from 1866 to 1868. After his mission he became a buisnessman in Parowan, Utah. Richard died on August 2, 1895, in Parowan, Utah. Phoebe Benson died on June 25, 1904, in Parowan, Utah.

Richard Benson (1816-1895) was a Latter-day Saint pioneer from England and early missionary.

Richard Benson was born on March 29, 1816, in Wrightington, England to Thomas Benson and Margaret Marsden. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1837 by Elder Heber C. Kimball. Richard served his first mission in Newcastle, England from approximately 1841 to 1842, where he baptized forty-seven people including his future wife Phoebe Forrester. After his mission he traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois to be with the main body of the church. In 1844 he returned to England and married Phoebe on June 20, 1844, in Cheshire, England, and in 1845 they returned to Nauvoo. They traveled with the saints to Salt Lake City in approximately 1850, and they settled in Parowan, Utah, where they had the last of their nine children. Then in 1866 Richard was called to serve his second mission in England, which he did from 1866 to 1868. After his mission he became a buisnessman in Parowan, Utah. Richard died on August 2, 1895, in Parowan, Utah.

Phoebe Benson (1820-1904) was the wife of Richard Benson and a Latter-day Saint pioneer.

Phoebe Benson was born Phoebe Forrester on August 25, 1820, in Crossings, England to Joseph Forester and Elizabeth Forester. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in October 1840 by her future husband Richard Benson. On June 20, 1844, in Cheshire, England, she married Richard Benson and in 1845 they traveled to Nauvoo, Illinois. In approximately 1850 they traveled with the saints to Salt Lake City and settled in Parowan, Utah, and had the last of their nine children. Phoebe Benson died on June 25, 1904, in Parowan, Utah.

Alvin Benson (1859-1942) was a Latter-Day Saint missionary in California, farmer, and mayor of Parowan, Utah.

Alvin Benson was born on November 17, 1859, in Parowan, Utah, to Richard Benson and Phoebe Forrester. He married Elizabeth Ellen Orton on November 16, 1881, in the St. George Temple and they had eight children together. He served a Mormon misson in California from 1897-1899, and when he returned he became mayor of Parowan, Utah in 1899. He later turned to farming after his days in office were over. Alvin Benson died on March 10, 1942, in Cedar City, Utah.