Gretchen Kraus

*"This is a Governor's Mansion! We do not drink out of jelly jars, and we do not save leftovers!" - Gretchen Wilomena Kraus*

## Gretchen Kraus

### Relatives

Fritzie Kraus (Mother)
Helga (Aunt)

Hilda (Aunt) [Deceased]

Heidi Kraus (Cousin)

### Occupation

Administrative Assistant for Lieutenant Gov. DuBois
Formerly:

Director of Household Affairs at the Governor's Mansion

Head Housekeeper of the Governor's Mansion

## Appearances

### Debut

Benson - "Change"

**Gretchen Wilomena Kraus** (played by Inga Swenson) was the head housekeeper of the Governor's Mansion, turned administrative assistant, and is one of the main characters on the ABC sitcom, *Benson*.

## About Gretchen Kraus

### Childhood in Germany

Gretchen Wilomena Kraus was born to Fritzie Kraus and an unnamed father in a village in Bavaria, Germany. Kraus was one of seven girls born in the year she was in her hometown. Her father was the owner of a hotel and was also into theatre along with other members of her family; with Kraus once stating that she was 'born in a trunk'.

As a kid, among her peers, she was constantly the subject of ridicule due to being an early bloomer. Gretchen would attempt to act older, only to face increased teasing from her contemporaries.

As a teenager, Gretchen became insecure; feeling like an outcast in the village. Around this time Gretchen would also begin to develop a difficult relationship with her father; with Kraus at one point stating that her dad was fed up with her and "sent her to America".

### Move to America

According to Kraus, she was still a 'little girl' when her family moved to America, and would face adversity for her lack of understanding of the English language.

Gretchen eventually would make the decision to drop out of high school and get a job to provide for herself, choosing to become a housekeeper, as it was a skill she had developed while in Bavaria. Kraus would get her first big job as a housekeeper at the Fenley Residence Hotel, eventually working her way up to the position of head housekeeper.

### Move Into the Governor's Mansion

In the 1960's Gretchen would be hired as a housekeeper at the state's Governor's Mansion. She would work through four different administrations, including one under Governor Mullig'an, before working under the newly elected Governor Gatling, in 1979. That same year Kraus would take part in a worker's strike at the mansion due to a, then, current inflation.

### Promotion

In 1980, Gretchen would pass her immigration test and become a U.S. citizen. The following year Kraus would be promoted to director of head of household affairs at the Governor's Mansion while still maintaining her position as head housekeeper. That same year, Kraus would get engaged to her significant other, Arnold Lumditter. Kraus also earned her High School diploma in 1982, as it was under law to have in order to keep a management position. She would break up with Arnold in 1983.

In 1984, she would manage budget director, Benson DuBois' campaign for Lieutenant Governor. She would be promoted once again, to administrative assistant for the Lieutenant Governor, following her work on the campaign.

## Relationships

### Benson

Kraus was the first person Benson encountered inside the mansion, describing her as a 'strange woman' as well as a 'Storm Trooper'. Kraus wasn't fond of the change that Benson was attempting to arise and kept a heavy guard around him. They initially carried a combative relationship through insults and getting the last word. Often in the earlier seasons, occasionally later on as well, Benson would insult Kraus after she leaves the kitchen. Off-screen, Kraus would shout *"I HEAR YOU!!!"* in response to the witty remark.

Much later on, though, their animosity would become a close friendship and companionship. He would become so valuable an ally to her that she applied to be his aid when he became Lieutenant Governor.

The two would help each other in relationships and aid one another sometimes when in need. Despite this however, Kraus and Benson would still trade blows with each other, but in a more friendly fashion.

### Governor

The Governor and Kraus got to know each other early on. Considering that the two live with each other, they both had to develop an open relationship in the mansion. Despite thinking he was a little ditzy, she warmed up to him rather quickly. The two also bonded off of the relationship they have with Katie due to the death of her biological mother.

### Katie

Katie and Kraus had a mother-daughter relationship. Because Katie's biological mother had passed, Kraus naturally took Katie under her wing and helped raise her when the Governor was busy. She often used her own experience and understanding when she was a little girl to form a bond with Katie. Kraus would help Katie with her school work and tuck her into bed and saw her as her own daughter.

As Katie got older, Kraus kept a close friendship with each other, assisting her whenever she was in need.

### Others

As a long term housekeeper, Gretchen had more knowledge of the Governor's Mansion than any of the staff under the Gatling Administration. Oftentimes, this experience would clash with the opinions of the chief of staffs, John Taylor and Clayton Endicott, as well as creating a dissonance between her and the head of household affairs, Benson DuBois. Even Governor Gatling wasn't quite certain about the snappy housekeeper at times. Kraus's tough guard she carried also intimidated outsiders. She had a fierce zest that allowed her to keep a brave front, with her guard generally being let down in a life or death predicament, or around people who've earned her trust.

Her bonds always seemed to be the strongest with other female colleagues in the mansion such as Marcy Hill, Denise Stevens, and Rose Cassidy. Not to mention the Governor's daughter, Kate Gatling, whom the two shared a motherly daughterly bond. Kraus was also a woman who was proud of her heritage, and wasn't shy of her accomplishments as a German-born American citizen.

## Trivia

* Kraus has an interest in writing; depicted writing a book on more than one occasion.
* According to the Governor, Kraus has been at the mansion longer than the drapes in his office.
* She made a guest appearance in a film as a teenager in Bavaria. She appeared only in one scene, playing a love interest of a German boy who tended his sheep.
* Its shown in multiple instances that Kraus doesn't know how to deal with tragedy; at one point endlessly smiling and at another point reacting with uncontrollable laughter.
* Kraus is a firm believer in the supernatural such as extra terrestrials, spirituality, and reincarnation.
	+ According to the episode, "Flight of the Dodo", Gretchen's beliefs may actually have some merit, as she apparently carries some form of telepathic ability.
* According to the episode, "Who's Arnold?", Gretchen's abnormally keen hearing is a hereditary trait.
* Bowling for the Pin Blaster's Bowling Team is one of Gretchen's top hobbies and was done as a weekly practice.
	+ She was once elected queen of the *'Bowling Ball'* and was later elected Captain of the Pin Blaster's Bowling Team.
* She has a talent in singing.
* Being shown to have a remarkable amount of strength, Gretchen is actually able to lift up, and knock out, grown men with a single punch, as depicted more than once.
* Kraus once won a jingle contest for a toilet cleaner named Super Bowl by writing the jingle, *"When the going gets tough and the tough gets going, Super Bowl keeps your bathroom glowing"*.
* The state never fired Gretchen from her job as head housekeeper at the Governor's Mansion out of fear that she would write a book about her experiences working under four administrations.

## Quotes

* "The wild boar may romp through the forest with a beautiful doe, but that don't make him Bambi."
* "I hear you!"
* "Nothing is too complicated for a German."
* "This is a Governor's Mansion! We do not drink out of jelly jars and we do not save leftovers!"
* "You bet your bobsled!"
* "This is why we have wars. Men can't get along with each other."
* "Put it in a sock!"
* "First of all, as a group, men are not that intelligent."
* "Hot damn!"
* "Sometimes we see people the way we want to see them, and not the way they really are."