6/6/1943 – 10/23/2025
Lawrence
Ben was welcomed into heaven on October 23, 2025.
He was born June 6, 1943 in Seneca, SC. He went to Dreher High School in Columbia, SC where he was active in band, playing trumpet. He also participated in musical theater, performing in several musicals, including Oklahoma and South Pacific where his really low solo voice brought down the house in “There is Nothing Like a Dame.” On occasion as a youth, he sang solos in church. He participated in Boy Scouts, where he earned his Eagle Scout and was inducted into The Order of the Arrow. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and he loved his Gamecocks! He was especially proud when his son graduated from his alma mater.
Ben enlisted in the US Air Force after college and served in Vietnam.
He married Mardi Rudin in 1966, and they quickly welcomed 3 sons. They resided in North Carolina and North Dakota before settling in Kansas in 1974.
After leaving the service, Ben worked in Nekoma, ND on a giant pyramid-shaped missile defense radar system, then in Topeka with Southwestern Bell until his retirement. He also earned a second bachelor’s degree from Washburn University in Topeka, KS in business administration.
Ben loved to fix and do. In North Dakota, during a blizzard and -33 degree weather, he climbed a TV tower to repair the antenna so that the town could watch TV. After retirement, he continued to work in telecommunications, as well as doing survey work, real estate appraisals, substitute teaching, and working on a golf course.
Over the years he rebuilt vehicles, played many rounds of golf (often crying “Fore!”), did wood working, cooked and smoked meats to perfection, and fixed whatever was broken. He was always available for project advice, and loved to strike up conversations with whomever he met. Ben had an exceptional memory until he left this earth, recalling details with ease. Most recently, he loved tooling around in his electric wheelchair.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Ben Sr. and Eileen. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mardi; sister Ann (Ashley); three sons Jeff (Debbie), Rob (Paige) and Greg (Leah); grandchildren Keith (Allison), Alex (Jessie), Zack, Nick, Xan, Leah, Halle, and Colin; great grandchildren Gavin, Chloe, and Rhombus; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ben’s grandchildren were his pride and joy, with his nieces and nephews coming in a close second. He also loved and shared his chair with many puppy dogs during his life.
Donations can be made in Ben’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project or Folds of Honor.
Visitation with the family will take place Monday Nov 3 at 1:00 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, followed by a service at at 2 pm.
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