John M. Benson

John Manning Benson, a longtime Topeka grocer, University of Oklahoma graduate, and devoted Sooners football fan, died after a life marked by service, entrepreneurship, and deep ties to the community. Born November 22, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas, to Avis Manning and Ralph Benson, he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1957 and later earned a marketing degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he served as yearbook editor and was a member of Delta Epsilon fraternity.

He married Jeannette “Jan” Benson in June 1961. In July of that year, the couple moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served as an infantry first lieutenant until 1963. After serving in the military, John began his career in the grocery business with the Fleming Company and moved to Topeka in 1963, later becoming Director of New Store Development. In 1972, he purchased his first store in Pauline, building what became John’s Pauline Food Center and serving generations of customers over the course of five decades. A 2022 local news report noted that he retired after 50 years in the business and spoke warmly of his customers as friends.

Briefly retiring in 1994 and living between Oklahoma City and San Diego, John was admittedly restless. He said the hardest part of retirement was trying to be productive every day. After moving back to Topeka in 2002, he loved returning to the Pauline store. He sold the store and shopping center in 2022 and once again found himself retired. This time, he built a village with H.O. gauge trains, which he said helped keep him productive every day.

John is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Jan; his sons, John Jr. (Stacey) and Jeff; and his grandsons, Jack, Jarrett, Reed, and Sam. A graveside service is scheduled at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Helping Hands Humane Society.