Benjamin Leroy Wedel, age 67, of Wolf Point, MT passed away December 5, 2009 in Billings, MT.
Benjamin was born June 15, 1942 to Theodore B. and Maria (Unrau) Wedel in Wolf Point. He attended school in Lustre and graduated from high school in 1962. He spent one year at Briercrest and one year at a trade school in Omaha. He was in W1 service at Echo Ranch Bible Camp near Juneau, AK from 1964 to September of 1966.
Benjamin moved to Minneapolis, MN where he started working at a body shop and then went on to hang drywall in construction. He met Beverly Johnson in Minneapolis and they were married October 4, 1969 in Billings.
In 1973 Benjamin and Beverly purchased the family farm from Ben’s father and moved to the farm in 1974. God blessed Benjamin and Beverly with two children, David, born in Minnesota, and Terri, born soon after their arrival in Montana. Both children attended school in Lustre and Terri finished her schooling in Wolf Point. Unfortunately Beverly passed away in January of 1990, leaving Ben on the farm and Terri attending high school.
The loss of his wife was a major crisis for Ben.
Ben raised barley, wheat, pigs and cattle. He enjoyed working with and training horses and joking during branding. Ben also did mechanic work on equipment on the farm.………………………………………..
Ben attend the EMB Church and Bethel WP Churches in Lustre. He also enjoyed singing in the choir and driving bus for camp. Many times Ben was blessed with help from friends and also assisted others through church projects. Ben is preceded in death by his wife Beverly, parents Theodore and Maria Wedel, and sister Eleanor Fullerton.
He is survived by his son, David LeRoy Wedel of Glendive, MT and daughter, Terri Dorothy Wedel of Kalispell, MT; sister Alice (Wedel) Johnson and husband Ross of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law Robert Fullerton of Omaha, NE; brother Elmer Wedel and wife Elaine (Heide) of Eden Prairie, MN; nephews and nieces, Peggy Cline and husband Greg, Sandy Johnson, Maj. Daryl Fullerton and wife Ha, SSG Daniel Fullerton and wife Michelle, Susan Fullerton, Jason Wedel and wife Kimberly, and Jeremy Wedel and wife Shelly.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2009 at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Funeral Service will begin 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 11, 2009 at the EMB Church, Lustre. Interment will follow at Bethel Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to LCHS or Beacon Bible Camp.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.