After a long battle with cancer, Merrali peacefully took her last breath on this earth on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.

She was 61 years old. Merrali was born in Mankato, Minnesota on a frigid Wednesday morning, February 20, 1963,

to Norman Janssen and Bonnie Marilyn Sween. She grew up with her four siblings and graduated from Mankato

West High School in 1981. She continued her education at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Merrali moved to

Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1986 where she began her career in re-insurance with Benfield Group ultimately

becoming a Vice President.

In 1992 she met the love of her life, Michael Benson. She and Mike settled in Edina, Minnesota with their beloved

dog, Max. On May 26, 2000, Merrali and Mike were privately married at City Hall in New York City with her mother,

Marilyn, serving as witness. They celebrated their union dining at the top of the World Trade Center. Later that year,

while on a family safari in Kenya, they celebrated their love with a ceremony of a;irmation in a beautiful setting at

Lake Nakuru on July 1, 2000.

Merrali left Benfield Group in 2006 to pursue her many creative interests. She always had a special talent for

creating and decorating. If you ever received one of her beautifully wrapped and thoughtful gifts (which she was

always giving) you'd know the depth of her talents and love. She also used these skills in her business pursuits,

creating her company, MerBe Designs - selling her handmade soaps, lip balms, fragrances and photo greeting

cards at pop ups and creative markets. In 2012, they welcomed a new furry friend, Baloo, a blue-tick coon hound

that would become Merrali's ever present companion and protector.

They moved into a townhouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota 2015, making friends with many neighbors. She was an

avid estate sale enthusiast, finding unique treasures to sell on eBay (high-end purses were her favorite) or to

decorate her lovely home and building. She created the family cookbook, loved all things Betsy-Tacy, collected

antique matchbooks and postcards, and took great interest in cataloging and selling an extensive antique

corkscrew collection they inherited from Mike's father. She had a strong community of support at The Retreat in

Wayzata, Minnesota. In 2015, Merrali was diagnosed with breast cancer. After successful treatment, she was

cancer-free for seven years. In 2021, she was diagnosed with a new and more aggressive type of breast cancer.

Even after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, the cancer continued to spread. She lost her courageous battle

and passed peacefully with her mother and husband by her side.

Merrali will be deeply missed by her husband, Mike; furry friend, Baloo; mother, Marilyn Sween; father, Norman

Janssen; siblings Laurie (Joe) Sorenson, Coralie (Emily Vasiliou) Janssen, Natalie (Keith Berger) Janssen, Bradley

(Molly) Sween; three nieces, one nephew, and many extended family members and friends. She was preceded in

death by her maternal & paternal grandparents.

Memorial service 11 a.m. Friday, January 24th with visitation one hour before the service at the Washburn McReavy

Chapel, 7625 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN. There will be a luncheon served following the ceremony. Livestream

of the funeral service will be available at https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries/ and then click on

Merrali's Obituary.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00PM in Mankato, MN, May 17, 2025 at the Loose Moose Conference Center,

119 S. Front Street