By Chris Mayhew
Enquirer staff writer

FLORENCE - For 55 consecutive years until 1988 there was a Benson in office in Boone County as the circuit court clerk or county clerk. Mabel Benson, circuit court clerk from 1968-88, died Sunday at her Florence home. She was 80.

"They never lost an election," said Mrs. Benson's son Nick, of Florence.

The Bensons retained the offices for so long was because they were nice people who treated others the same, he said.

The legacy started in 1933 when Nick Benson's grandfather C.D. Benson was elected Boone County clerk, a position he held until 1965. Mrs. Benson's husband, Charles, was elected to the office of Boone Circuit Court clerk in the early 1960s, and she served as his deputy clerk until she was elected circuit clerk in 1968.

"When I first became an attorney, she was the circuit clerk. She was so kind and helpful to all the people who came into her office," said District Judge Michael Collins.

Mrs. Benson was challenged in an election only once, in the late 1970s. She won by a landside, with almost 80 percent of the vote.

"She was just so well liked that people didn't think she could be beat," Collins said. "It's hard to go after someone who's doing a good job."

Mrs. Benson lived her entire life within a 1-square-mile area in Florence near Boone County High School, her son said.

Her husband, Charles, died at age 46, and she was left to care for their four children, her son said.

She didn't take vacations, often worked two jobs, didn't relax on the front porch and usually didn't have any extra money since she was always trying to help someone, her son said.

"Working and helping people were the two most important things to her," he said.

Whenever one of her employees at the clerk's office or a neighborhood child had a problem, she was there to help, her son said.

Nick Benson, an attorney with a Walton practice, started working at the circuit clerk's office part-time when he was a freshman in high school with his mother and current Boone County Circuit Clerk Pat Gutzeit.

"Mom and Pat and I were the Circuit Clerk's Office back in the 1970s," he said. "They have 30 or so people now."

Whether someone was getting a driver's license or a lawyer was filing a lawsuit, it all went through Mrs. Benson, her son said.

Because Gutzeit was elected after she left office, Mrs. Benson felt her legacy of friendly customer service was continued, he said.

"She was without a doubt the most generous and kind person I've ever known," Gutzeit said. "She was my mentor."

Mrs. Benson's first priority was treating the public who walked in her door with the best service she could give them. She often chatted with people for a half-hour while they were getting their driver's license, Gutzeit said.

"The biggest thing that Mabel taught me was: people first," Gutzeit said.

Her daughter, Ellen Weckler, preceded her in death.

Other survivors include another son, Stan of Florence; a daughter, Karen DeFren of Florence; a brother, Oscar Smith of Erlanger; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services have been held. Burial was in Richwood Presbyterian Cemetery. Stith Funeral Home in Florence handled arrangements.

Memorials: Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, KY 41075.

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E-mail cmayhew@enquirer.com