Ben C. Tempel died at home on March 24, 2016.
Ben was born on his family’s farm just east of the Sweet Grass Hills in northcentral Montana on May 8, 1932. He was the youngest of eight children and attended a one-room schoolhouse, often arriving by horse. When Ben was a teenager, he and his family moved to Great Falls, where he graduated from high school in 1949.
After high school, Ben decided to see the world by joining the U.S. Navy. He was a communications specialist for four years of active duty and also spent four years in the Naval Reserve. Ben eventually returned to Montana, where he attended the University of Montana, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy.
In 1961, Ben moved to Whitefish to work as a pharmacist at Haines Rexall Drug. He soon took over ownership of the business and remained the owner/pharmacist for the next 25 years. He loved his job and serving the public. Ben was an active member of the Whitefish community for many decades. His civic duties included the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce (past president), Whitefish Lake Golf Club (past president), North Valley Hospital board (past chairman), Whitefish Winter Carnival (past president and past prime minister), Kiwanis, Flathead Bank board of directors, and the Whitefish Christmas Decoration Committee.
Ben’s favorite pastimes included gardening, woodworking, bird hunting and golfing. He loved spending time with his friends and showing he cared by giving everyone a hard time, always with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his lips. Ben wasn’t one for sitting and didn’t do much of it. He was always cracking jokes, right up to the very end. For that and many other reasons, he will be dearly missed.
Ben is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lorraine; his two sons, Curt and Brian, his daughter, Kris; his grandson, Cody; and numerous extended family members.
The family would like to sincerely thank Frontier Hospice for their invaluable and comforting support as Ben approached his final days.
Cremation was handled by Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.
A celebration of life will be held in early May.