John ’88 and Jill Benson were thrilled when their youngest child, Gabe, chose to attend Augsburg. When considering which school he would like to attend, his motivations echoed those of his father, who graduated from the same university with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. “Growing up in rural Minnesota,” says John, “I never felt out of place at Augsburg, despite it being in the big city.”
John, like Gabe, saw something special about Augsburg. “Gabe had three certainties,” Jill shared. “He wanted to live in Minneapolis, he wanted a diverse college environment, and lastly, he felt at home.” Gabe continued to explore his lifelong passions of reading, writing, and connecting with others throughout his time at Augsburg, where he double majored in Communications and English, earning his degree in 2019. “Augsburg totally shaped him and gave him the skills that allowed him to pivot drastically in his career trajectory,” Jill said. Gabe took an interest in mortuary science during the pandemic and graduated with a degree in it from the University of Minnesota in 2022. Sadly, Gabe passed away shortly after starting his new career.
Equally crucial to the experiences he had were the meaningful relationships he built with his peers and English faculty mentor, Lindsay Starck. “Lindsay and Gabe talked so much,” Jill shared. “They would meet at cafes, enjoying the view of the river, talking about books and life.” During his 2023 memorial, John recalled Lindsay’s eulogy about Gabe, in which she expressed her sentiment that “Gabe was proof that you can do anything as an English major.”
Gabe’s curiosity about life and his deep appreciation for the written word and authors were motivators for John and Jill’s gift. “We met with Lindsay, and she helped shape the gift we wanted to give,” John shared. “We wanted to think about the activities Gabe loved and how we could pass on those experiences to students.”
In 2025, they established the Gabe Benson ’19 Endowed Literary, Creative, and Narrative Arts Fund, which will expand hosting opportunities at Augsburg for a range of literary events, including readings, lectures, and visits from writers and thinkers who inspire critical and creative engagement. They are also excited about the prospect of this fund supporting student participation in events that deepen academic exploration and vocational discernment.
When reflecting on Gabe’s legacy and the passions he could impart to future Augsburg students, John shared, “Definitely an appreciation for reading. Gabe was a voracious reader. If this gift can instill excitement about literature or writing, that would mean the world.” “He was also such a light,” Jill added. “He loved storytelling and embraced who he was. I hope that we can help other students live out those qualities.”
