Ben J. Harada was born in Havre, Montana to Yasui “Arthur” and Kiyo Harada on April 3, 1924. He passed away on July 11 at the Billings Clinic with his four children all beside him. Ben was the youngest and had six brothers Tom, George, Roy, William “Dido”, Jack and Frank and one sister Mary. All of his siblings have preceded him in death.
He attended Havre schools and enlisted in the US Army in July, 1944; he served in Germany during World War II and was honorably discharged as a private first class. Ben was proud of being a WWII vet. He married Myrle on April 30, 1952 in Chicago, not long after they met and dated in Wolf Point.
Ben and Myrle were married for 54 years until she passed in 2006. He adored her and was very saddened when she passed on. They had four children, Kiyo Ruhd (Rockie), Leni Loendorf (Marvin), Steve (Traci) and Jeff (Michelle). Ben worked for the Montana Highway department as an engineer for 25 years and retired in 1978. He later worked in several different capacities both full-time and part-time, including Randolf Construction, High Plains Motors, Wolf Point Cable TV and Camrud Motors. He was a very hard worker and as meticulous as one can get at doing things right. He was a jack of all trades and always wanted things done to perfection. Later in life he became more intrigued with getting it done ASAP than demanding precision. His cooking was second to none and he could make a gourmet meal out of a bit of leftovers or whatever he could scrounge up from the kitchen. Nobody went away hungry or “especially” thirsty from his house.
Ben enjoyed fishing, playing cards, playing pool and socializing with family and friends. For almost his entire life he enjoyed a cold beer and a good cigar. In fact, the day before he passed away he asked Kiyo and Leni if there was a beer in the fridge at his hospital room. He and Myrle enjoyed traveling particularly after retirement and he truly cherished his children and grandchildren. He was always more than willing to provide a helping hand to his friends and family. Ben was a former city councilman, past Mayor of Wolf Point and was a member, past Elder and Deacon of the First Presbyterian church. Although he wasn’t extremely cultural to his Japanese heritage, he could understand and speak some of the language. He mainly passed on bits of the language that the kids weren’t supposed to add to their own vocabularies. One thing he did for years was omiyage (pronounced oh-mee-ya-gay), the traditional bringing of a gift when you go to visit or return from a trip.
Ben is survived by his four children, grandchildren Ross and Ryan Ruhd, Justin Loendorf and Heidi Loendorf Kent (Jeff), Krista Harada Brunelle (Jeremy), Kara and Sara Harada, Dakota Robinson, Jaki Harada and three great grandchildren Maia, Audri and Gavin Kent, with another on the way. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and his best friend Leroy Anderson.
Dad, Grampa and Friend Ben will be truly missed but he’s in a better place and left an abundance of lasting memories for all…
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 19 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Inurnment will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point with full Military Honors.. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to the family by using the form below.