Holly Wettstein

Holly (formerly Holly Benson-Suess) was born in Ishpeming, MI on November 15, 1954 to her parents, the late Janet E. Benson and William (Bill) A. Benson. She graduated from Stevens College in Columbia, MO in 1976 with a degree in fashion and marketing. Holly went on to a short but successful modeling career in New York City after which she returned to the midwest for a short enrollment in graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She went on to a career in which she wore many hats: fashion buyer for department stores, traveling salesperson, and marketing partner in Mark Suess Designs in St. Cloud, MN where she lived for many years. During those years she gained a reputation as a preeminent hostess and chef that was furthered by her participation in world class, culinary courses in Paris and Tuscany. She considered that one of her greatest achievements was founding La Table, an annual tabletop event that raised donations to support research into Multiple Sclerosis. Holly married Peter Wettstein in 2014 and moved to Rochester, MN for four years before settling year-round in Scottsdale, AZ for seven years. Holly and Peter moved to a home overlooking the Penobscot River in Orrington, ME in 2024 where they lived until Holly’s passing. The move to the Maine coastline enabled her to indulge herself in preparing and eating all the varieties of fresh seafood that the Gulf of Maine has to offer.

Holly is survived by her sister MaryAnn (Thomas) Carey of Shelby, MI and her daughters Wendy (Sterling) Harmon of Vernon, CT who grew up alongside Holly in the Benson house and Janean (Michael) Hall of Campbellsville, KY. She is survived by her two daughters Courtney (Sajad) Suess-Raeisinafchi of Bryan, TX and Paige Suess of Phoenix, AZ from a previous marriage. Holly also leaves behind her husband, Peter Wettstein, and his three children: Astrid, Marit, and Howard.

Please consider donating to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Holly’s memory.