Lebanon, N.H. —
He lived in Lebanon his whole life and was a beloved husband and father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Mason) Benjamin, whom he married Nov. 5, 1955. She died Feb. 12, 2005. Also predeceased by his infant son, David, and his sister, Mary Healey of Conn., and brother, Bob Benjamin of Va.
He is survived by his two daughters, Terry Follensbee and her husband, Duane of Lebanon and Kathy Murphy and her husband, Jonathan of Williamstown, Mass.; a grandaughter, Jennifer Bogacki and her husband, Jared, of Greensboro, N.C.; a grandson,, Benjamin Murphy and his wife, Katie of Williamstown, Mass. He had two great-grandaughters, Avaleigh Grace and Emmanuelle Rose Bogacki; and a great-grandson, Alexander Benjamin Murphy. He also enjoyed spending time with his good friend Winnie Dennis, especially at Shyrl’s diner.
He was in the National Guard in 1959 at Camp Drum, Watertown, N.Y.
He worked for the Lebanon Tannery for years, was a volunteer firefighter at the same time and drove school bus for varsity sports at Lebanon High School.
He then began a career as a full-time fireman for Lebanon and helped out with the police and ambulance.
He worked for Dartmouth College from November of 1979 to May of 1997, when he retired. He occasionally drove the Lebanon senior citizen bus. He then worked for Kimbal Union Academy for several years driving students to their appointments.
In his freetime he was an avid hunter, fisherman and raised AKC registered beagles. He loved hiking and snowshoeing, etc., and he was a lifetime memeber of the Claremont Beagle club. He loved all animals.
He had an old saying about raising kids: “Keep them in the woods, it keeps them off the streets.”
At Ben’s request, there will be no calling hours and no funeral service.
Donations may be made in his name to Upper Valley Humane Society and/or B.O.N.E.S., Beagles of New England States.
A message of condolence can be shared with Ben’s family by visiting: www.rickerfuneralhome.com.