Janie Mae Benson Wirth Eggers

Born:  April 25, 1949

Date of Death:  December 21, 2021

Janie Benson Eggers --A graveside service is planned for April 25, 2022, at 10:30 am at the Colfax Cemetery.  Friends and family are invited to attend and share their memories of Janie who passed to Heaven December 21, 2021, in Albuquerque, NM

Janie Mae Benson was born in Spokane, WA to Robert and Frances Benson, the youngest of four children. As the oldest Bill was always her protector and guide.  I shared a bedroom with Janie and we shared many late night moments in conversation and battling the dreaded moths in the drafty old farmhouse. Tom was often her partner in crime as they played together as small children. The family lived north of Colfax, WA, on a ranch raising wheat and some livestock which included cattle, pigs and a few chickens. Janie was a bright, gentle, kind but always determined young lady from the start.  She excelled in whatever she chose.  Many a term paper was typed into the wee hours due to her tendency to procrastinate.

When she was about 10 years old, she made the decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior leading to a life-long faith. The phrase, "Still waters run deep" certainly applied to Janie. She tended to be quiet and soft spoken with few exceptions. However, no one should have mistaken her soft demeanor for lack of a strong will.  She could only be pushed so far, and then wild horses could not force her to change her mind.

Janie met her first husband, Bruce Wirth, in Southern California while attending college to obtain her teaching credentials.  Bruce was also a teacher which allowed them to pursue many interesting travel destinations during summer vacations.  They visited Tahiti, Europe and the East Coast including New York City.  One summer was spent exploring many of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota by canoe.  A sabbatical took them to Alaska where Bruce wrote poetry and Janie worked as a flight attendant for Wien Airlines.  During their marriage Janie enjoyed various career choices in addition to teaching.  She worked in advertising and operated a small business with her friend Maggie Unze.  Janie and Bruce eventually went their separate ways but remained friends until his death.

When Janie was 39, she attended a class reunion in Colfax, WA and became reacquainted with Scott Eggers.  She describes him as the "love of her life".  They married and later welcomed a baby boy, Casey Ryan.  While Scott pursued a real estate career, Janie honed her entertainment skills in the hospitality business eventually acquiring Sarabande, a Bed & Breakfast in Albuquerque. She and Scott remodeled and built add-ons creating a thriving B & B.  Scott's brother Terry often contributed his building skills working alongside Scott. Many of us have fond memories of cutting up fruit and Costco muffins helping Janie host her guests during daily breakfasts.  Guests from all over the world found Janie the perfect hostess—friendly, accommodating and always hard working.

She also was active in Senior Women's Olympic basketball which allowed travel to many tournaments throughout the nation.  Many lasting friendships were formed during those activities.

Tragically, Scott developed a neurologic disorder eventually passing away ten years later.  During that time Janie valiantly carried on with the B & B while parenting Casey and caring for Scott.  Perhaps the burden of that heavy load caused her to develop what was thought to be Alzheimer's disease.  That resulted in what Nancy Reagan called "the long goodbye."  For Janie that lasted over ten years.

Janie was loved and held in high esteem by her family, her friends and business associates.  Janie was a loving, hard-working, loyal and caring friend with a delightful sense of humor.  She has been and will be missed greatly.

She is survived by one son, Casey Ryan Eggers who lives in northern California, brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Kathleen Benson of Big Bear, CA, brother-in-law and sister, Kenneth and Margaret Goodman who live in southern Idaho, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Terry and Janet Eggers and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Michael and Patsy Kromm residing in Sandpoint, ID.  Our parents and brother William Benson preceded her in death.

In conclusion, since Janie left us, my thoughts have increasingly turned to the eternal.  I expect and anticipate a joyful reunion with Janie and others who have gone on before us.  I believe she has been restored to the vibrant, lovely person we all remember and cherish so dearly.