Ben Kampf of Kalispell passed away peacefully with a smile on his face with his loving family by his side November 22nd at the Kalispell Health Center as the result of an accident. Ben was born August 25, 1923 in a Sod house on the family homestead near Laredo, Montana. He was the tenth of thirteen children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Samuel and Christina Boschee Kampf. He attended country elementary school in Laredo and Havre High school. He was an all-state running back as a member of the Havre Blue Ponies who won the 1941, Class A State championship. During World War II he enlisted in the Navy and was a pharmacist mate on board the LST 486 seeing duty in the Aleutian Islands. After the war ended he enrolled at Montana State College (now Montana State University) on the GI Bill and a football scholarship. Ben was inducted into Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame along with other members of the 1946 Bobcat football team that won the Rocky Mountain conference Championship. The 1946 Football squad was the first ever to play in a Bowl game. Montana State played the University of New Mexico in the Harbor Bowl on New Year’s Day 1947 in San Diego. The two teams battled to a 13-13 tie. On July 15, 1951 he married Jean Lorene Hallam in Bozeman. Ben worked as an Engineer on the Burlington Northern Railroad for 35 years, retiring in 1986 and enjoying what he called, “the life of Riley,” golfing, hunting, playing billiards, skiing and watching his grandchildren participate in sports. He was an all-around athlete and enjoyed many sports including boxing in his younger years, water and snow skiing, horse-back riding, also played cowboy polo and basketball on an independent team well into his 70th year of life. He was preceded in death by his parent’s, five brothers, and four sisters. He is survived by his wife Jean of Kalispell, son’s Gary Kampf (Lil) of Whitefish, Jim Kampf (Tami) of Kalispell, daughter’s Jerrine Gangas (Chuck) of Mendon, MA., Marianne Kampf of Issaquah, Washington and Dianne Scotten (Dave) of Lewistown, grand children Christa Kampf Hall, Richie (Jessica) Kampf, Beny Kampf, Chris and Dustin Scotten, KayCee Kampf Bryer (Justin), Jessi and Jolee Kampf, Maria and Juliana Kampf and Skylar Lystne and great grandchildren Taylor and Ashley Kampf and Jack Beny Frank along with his brother Ted and Emil Kampf and sister Millie Bailey and many nieces and nephews. Burial services will be held on Saturday November 27, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery with military honors. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 12:00 P.M. at the Calvary Lutheran Church. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Flathead Food Bank or the Veteran’s Food Bank.