Posted 10/30/05

Ben L. Grace II, age 65, of Clancy, passed away on Friday, Oct. 28, 2005, at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena after a short illness.

He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, on June 27, 1940, to Ben L. and Doris Mae Grace. Ben moved to San Antonio as a child and attended schools there. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 and was honorably discharged in 1961. After his discharge he moved to Montana and became a Navy reservist for 24 years.

He married Sharon Johnson on May 22, 1964, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In 1965 Ben attended MSU studying electrical engineering. Ben went to work for Kaiser Cement at Montana City in April 1968 in the electrical department and retired in 1986 to become self-employed with Clancy Machine and Av Tech of Montana. Ben enjoyed ham radio, racing dirt bikes, building and running dune buggies on the dunes and in the mountains. He also enjoyed his weekly music sessions, playing banjo with Clancy Jammers, the Thursday Night pickers and other groups.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents and infant son Ben III.

Surviving him is his wife, Sharon; sons, Tim and Ben IV; granddaughters, Heather and Jessica and his two obnoxious Jack Russells, Max and Molly and many, many special friends.

A memorial service in celebration of Ben's life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at the Old Clancy School Gymnasium. A reception will be held at the Legal Tender Banquet Room immediately following the memorial service. Memorials in Ben's name are suggested to the Clancy United Methodist Church; Clancy, MT 59634. Cremation and service arrangement are under the direction of Retz Funeral Home.