Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Jr.

1899 - 1998  (98 years)

• Name	Benjamin Franklin Benkelman  [1]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	17 Nov 1899	Jaqua, Cheyenne County, Kansas   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	8 Mar 1998	Houston, Harris County, Texas   [2]
  Burial	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
  Notes	Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Jr. was born in 1899 in a sod hut on the JC Ranch in Jacqua, Kansas. His father, Ben, Sr., had moved to Kansas from Michigan to work for his Uncle at the ranch, and had spent nearly 20 years working as a cowboy. Ben and his three older brothers and sisters were all born on the ranch. In 1901, the family relocated back to Cass City, Michigan, where they purchased a general merchandise store. Ben remembers working at the store as soon as he was old enough to see over the counter. They sold dry goods, groceries, shoes, and crockeries. Ben recalled that the customers just pointed out what they wanted, and it was the clerks job to go gather everything. "We really worked in those days" he said. He remembers making deliveries in a red coaster wagon or by horse and buggy. The horse was named Topsy. Ben said he was the only one of the children who helped his parent's in their store. His other brothers and sisters didn't want to have anything to do with it. In High School Ben was a star athlete. He was on the baseball, basketball, football, and track teams--four years each, earning a total of 16 letters. He even set several state track records. He graduated from High School during World War I. Fortunately, the war ended a only a few weeks before he was to report for military duty. He went to Kalamazoo College on a football scholarship. His team were the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champions (MIAA) in 1919. The MIAA is the Nation's Oldest Collegiate Conference. Ben recalls that one of the games he played was against "the Gipper," who played at the University of Notre Dame. Born in 1895, George Gipp was a varsity athlete at Notre Dame from 1917 to 1920. While planning to pursue a career in baseball, he was convinced by legendary college coach Knute Rockne to play football as well. He led the Fighting Irish to a 27-2-3 record, playing both offense and defense. Several of his records still stand today. Gipp caught a throat infection during one of his final football games at Notre Dame. He died a few weeks later at the age of 25. Just before his death, he told Coach Rockne, "Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy." After a year of college, Ben returned to Cass City to help his parents with the store. He later went to work at the Nestle plant in Cass City. Nestles food had purchased the plant from Hires Milk company around 1922. This plant had been producing "sweetened" condensed milk in Cass City since 1917, employing from 50-100 persons with most of their output being exported. The plant had been established at the urging of a group of local businessmen whose objective was to encourage and secure a milk processing plant to give the local farmers, almost all who had a small dairy herd, an easier way to dispose of their milk. While working in Cass City, Ben was on the "Ward's Independents" Basketball Team and they were 'Thumb Champions, Michigan' for the 1921-1922 season. A mutual friend set Ben up on a blind date with Avis Smith, a schoolteacher in a nearby town. This was in 1924. When he arrived to the boarding house to pick her up, she peeked over the balcony to check him out. She had made arrangements with a friend to watch for her signal. If Ben didn't pass muster, the friend was to inform him Avis was sick in bed. He passed with flying colors, however, and they drove nearly 20 miles for Chinese food. Around this same time, Ben enrolled in a dental technician's program in Chicago. He worked his way through school as a waiter at "Child's One Arm Restaurant." The restaurant was named for the tables the diner's each sat at, similar to old fashioned school desks. The following article about his studies appeared in the January 8, 1926 issue of the Cass City Chronicle "Ben Benkelman, jr., has completed his studies at the McCarrie School of Mechanical Dentistry at Chicago and is now assisting Dr. P.A. Schenck in the latter's dental parlors where he is gaining practical experience in his chosen work." Ben and Avis were married in August, 1926. Seven years later, on December 8, 1933, their only child, Bonnie, was born. Despite being born in the midst of the depression, Bonnie remembers an idyllic childhood. By lucky accident, her father withdrew their life savings from the bank the day before the great bank crash. He took out their savings to buy a winter coat and chair. When he returned to redeposit the balance, the banks had all closed. Ben remained steadily employed, running the dental lab for Dr. Pearl Schenck and then Dr. D.E. Rawson. He was employed by them for 42 years. The Benkelman's owned a house in Cass City, and a cabin in Caseville, on Lake Huron. Ben served on the village council for 11 years, and was twice village president (Mayor). He was never too busy for his daughter though. Bonnie remembers her father helping her, along with half the football team, with their math homework throughout high school. He was a charter member of the Cass City Gavel Club, and Past Master and Life Member of the Tyler F&AM lodge. When Ben was in his thirties, he went on a strict diet due to problems with his gallbladder. He abstained from sugar and fat for nearly 30 years. This, and his love of sports, probably contributed to his longetivity. He was able to play golf into his late eighties, and walked every morning and evening until he was nearly 96. Volume 26 of the STIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published on September 5, 1966, reported that Ben retired "after 40 years as a Dental Technician. He and Avis were going to spend the winter in Houston, Texas with their daughter and family." When the McLemore's were transferred back to Chicago, Ben and Avis moved onto St. Petersburg, Florida. They lived in a retirement community. They were to fulfill a dream when the visited Hawaii for their 50 wedding anniversary. They also enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise together. Ben had surgery for both kidney cancer and prostate cancer, both of which never reocurred. Avis died in 1981, and Ben lived in Florida for seven more years. After he suffered several minor strokes, he decided to move back to Houston, where the McLemore's had returned. This was around 1988. He lived in a retirement community on his own for several more years. Ben's biggest fear was that his mind would deteriorate before his body, and sadly this came to pass. Around 1994, suffering from senile dementia and Alzheimer's, Ben moved into his daughter's home. Here he was to live until he died from complications from pneumonia in early 1998. His daughter, Bonnie, and granddaughters, Melinda and Leigh were at his bedside when he died. Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, granddaughter, circa 1995 and revised periodically. He was one the family members BonnieMargaret Jacobs personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family. [3] (Medical):Cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal failure, Alzheimers disease, kidney and prostate cancer in remission
  Person ID	I17	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2021

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr.,   b. 24 Sep 1863, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York d. 7 Sep 1952, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 88 years)
  Mother	Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse,   b. 27 Sep 1865, Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan d. 18 Jun 1961, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 95 years)
  Marriage	26 Dec 1892	St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas   [4, 5, 6]
  Photos » Slide Show		Benkelman General Store (Ben F. Benkelman, Sr. Proprietor), Cass City, Michigan, ca 1901-1924 After retiring from ranching, Ben Benkelman Sr. owned and operated a dry goods store in his hometown of Cass City for approximately twenty years. Ben Sr. is standing in the background of this photo. In the foreground is Mr. Philo S. Rice, who clerked at the Benkelman store for 19 years, and was proprietor of his own grocery store for nearly six years thereafter. He was born on Stuben, NY on 5 Dec 1863, and died in Cass City on 8 Oct 1928, leaving behind his widow, Carrie Fancher Rice and two children, Mrs. A. C. Atwell of Cass City and Roy F. Rice of Los Angeles. (Cass City Chronicle, 12 Oct 1928, page 1).
  		Benkelman General Store (Ben F. Benkelman, Sr. Proprietor), Cass City, Michigan ca 1920's The interior of Ben Benkelman's general store in Cass City, with store clerk Philo S. Rice standing on the left. The lady to the right is unknown. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY HER.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1913 and Minnie (Jesse) Family of Cass City, Michigan Back, L to R: Ruth, Mae, Harold "Sime" and Ben, Jr. Front, L to R: Ben, Sr., Lois, Minnie
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1917 and Minnie (Jesse) Family of Cass City, Michigan Standing (L To R): Ruth, Mae, Harold, Ben Jr., Lois Seated (L to R): Ben Sr. and his wife, Minnie
  		Benkelman Home (Ben and Minnie Family), Cass City, Michigan, sometime after 1901 The home of Ben and Minnie Benkelman family of at 1454 Maple Street, Cass City, Michigan.
  Documents		Jesse, Minnie 1892 Marriage to Benjamin Benkelman,Sr. Copy of Marriage License as filed in 1892 in Cheyenne County, Kansas in 1892
  Family ID	F16	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Avis Augusta Smith,   b. 4 Apr 1901, Odessa Township, Ionia County, Michigan d. 7 Nov 1981, St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	24 Aug 1926	Grand Ledge, Eaton County, Michigan   [7, 8]
  	Per the Certificate of Marriage between Ben F. Benkelman and Avis A. Smith, the couple were joined in marriage at Grand Ledge, County of Eaton, Michigan, on the 24th day of August, A.D. 1926, in the presence of Wm B. Smith and Ida Smith of Grand Ledge (the bride's parents) as witnesses. The clergyman officiating was Ernst R. Lactham, Pastor of the Congregational Church.
  Children	1. Bonnie Jean Benkelman,   b. 8 Dec 1933, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 26 Sep 2023, Houston, Harris County, Texas (Age 89 years)
  Documents » Slide Show		Smith, Avis Augusta marriage to Ben Benkelman Marriage License issued in Eaton County, Michigan
  		Smith, Avis Augusta Family Bible, p 4 of 4 Marriages information, listing the marriage of Avis to Ben Benkelman, as well as the marriage of their only child, Bonnie
  		Benkelman, Ben and Avis Home, 1920's through 1940's The home of Ben and Avis Benkelman, 4354 Woodland, Cass City, Michigan ca 1940's
  		Benkelman, Ben and Avis Home, 1940's through 1960's The Benkelman Home on West Street in Cass City. This was the home the Benkelman's moved to when Bonnie was in High School, and this photo of it was taken in the late 1950's.
  		Benkelman, Ben and Avis, Lake Huron Weekend Cottage Ben and Avis's summer cottage, Sand Point, Caseville, Michigan on Huron Bay
  Family ID	F12	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2006

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 17 Nov 1899 - Jaqua, Cheyenne County, Kansas Marriage - 24 Aug 1926 - Grand Ledge, Eaton County, Michigan Death - 8 Mar 1998 - Houston, Harris County, Texas Burial - - Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1900 Ben as an infant in St. Francis, Kansas
  		Benkelman Family Sod Hut (Ben and Minnie Family), Cheyenne County, Kansas ca 1902 (L to R): Harold "Sime" on horseback, Ben Benkelman holding the hand of his son Ben Jr., Minnie Benkelman nee Jesse, and daughters Ruth and Mae. This picture was taken in Kansas shortly before the family moved to Ben's home town of Cass City, Michigan where he opened a general store. After spending twenty years as a cowboy and rancher at the Kansas/Nebraska/Colorado border, Ben was again ready for the comforts of civilization.
  		_Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. Husband of Avis Augusta Smith B. 1899 Kansas D. 1998 Texas
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catherine (Schaufele) Descendants ca 1912 Family Reunion Back, Standing, l to r: Mae Benkelman, Kate Schwegler, John Benkelman Sr., Ester Ackerman Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Benkelman, Joe Benkelman, Augusta Krehl Benkelman, Dorus Benkelman, Will Schwegler, Ward Benkelman, Ben Schwegler, Sam Benkelman Middle Row, kneeling, l to r: Alvin Benkelman, Harold Benkelman, Ruth Benkelman, Marie Benkelman (standing), Lena Benkelman Schwegler, Barbara Rommel Benkelman, Louisa Benkelman Schwegler Bottom Row, seated, l to r: Bertha Benkelman, Glen Benkelman, Ida Benkelman, Lottie Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Sr. behind his nephew John Donald Benkelman, Lois Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Jr., Alice Ross Schwegler with her baby Edward William Schwegler, and ,facing left, Mary Striffler Benkelman (Mrs. Sam) (Legend Courtesy of Bonnie-Margaret Benkelman Jacobs)
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1919 --Kalamazoo College Football Team, MIAA Champions In High School, Ben was a star athlete. He was on the baseball, basketball, football, and track teams--four years each, earning a total of 16 letters. He went to Kalamazoo College on a football scholarship. They were the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Champions in 1919. The MIAA is the Nation's oldest collegiate conference. Ben recalls that one of the games he played was against "the Gipper," the legendary George Gipp of the University of Notre Dame. After a year of college, he returned to Cass City to help his parents close their general store. Ben is on the front row, seated, and is the fifth player from the right hand side (seventh from the left). Jason Mann, a collector of vintage sports team photos, purchased an identical copy of this photo on Ebay. His copy has a roster of the players, as well as the results for 1919 season, written on the back. A scan of this identifying information follows.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1919 --Kalamazoo College Football Team, MIAA Champions, Back of Photo, Team Roster and Results for the Season Ben Benkelman went to Kalamazoo College on a football scholarship. In 1919 his team were champions of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), the nation's oldest collegiate conference. Jason Mann, a collector of vintage sports team photos, purchased an identical copy of this photo on Ebay. On the back of his copy was a roster of the players, along with the results for 1919 season, written on the back.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1922--Michigan Basketball Thumb Champions "Here they are: Members of Ward's Independent team of Cass City who have just completed their schedule of games for the season, winning 22 out of 24 contests. Upper row, left to right--Glen BIXBY, secretary-treasurer; 'Abbie' WARD, ass't manager; P.E. FLEMING [Pearl Flemming]; Andrew ['Hump'] CHAMPION; Wm. WARD, manager. Lower Row: Clarence ['Bud'] BURT, Capt. Ben BENKELMAN and Frank CHAMPION, coach. At the coach's feet, Pat, the mascot." This photo was from a newspaper article published in the Cass City paper on Friday, March 23, 1922. A copy of the actual newspaper article that accompanied the photo was kindly provided by Carol Bokas.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1920's with his children and their spouses Back Row, L to R: Wilmot "Bill" Carpenter, Ben Benkelman, Sr., Ben Benkelman, Jr., Jim Pease, Minnie Benkelman, Eustace Ball, Harold Benkelman in the late 1920's. Front Row, L to R: Mae Benkelman Carpenter, Lois Benkelman Pease, Ruth Benkelman Ball, Isabel Fletcher Benkelman, Avis Smith Benkelman
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1935, with his daughter, Bonnie Ben with his daughter Bonnie, age 13 months
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Jesse, Minnie ca 1960, with her children on her 95th birthday L to R: Ben Jr standing behind his sisters Lois and Ruth, Minnie, Mae and Sime The paintings behind the group were all done by Minnie herself, who took up painting as a hobby shortly after her 87th birthday.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1962, Cass City Ben in Cass City, shortly before his retirement
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1976 with wife Avis (nee Smith) Ben and Avis ready to depart on a Cruise in celebration of their Golden Wedding anniversary, 1976
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		McLemore, Lynn ca 1966, with Jack Hughes and Ben Benkelman Taken in Houston, after a fishing trip, at the home of Tom and Bonnie McLemore. Lynn may have been accompanied by one of his sons. The man in the middle is a neighbor of the McLemore, Jack Hughes,and the young boy possibly his namesake son. On the right is Ben, the father of Bonnie Benkelman McLemore.

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr Affadavit of Birth This affadavit of birth in Cheyenne County, Kansas, was filed almost 40 years after Ben was born in 1899.
  		Sandham, John Insurance Policy Ben and Avis purchased this insurance policy from John A. Sandham, an agent for Lincoln Life Insurance, in 1932
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. ca 1966, News article regarding retirement "Civic Leader Ends Cass City Career" From the Cass City (Michigan) Chronicle, Thursday, October 27, 1966
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. Application for Social Security payments after Ben's retirement
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Jr. Death Certificate As filed in Houston, Harris County, Texas

  
  

  Headstones

  Benkelman, Benjamin, Jr. and Avis (Smith)

  
  

• Sources

  [S381] State of Kansas, Delayed Birth Certificate. [S418] Texas Department of Health, Death Certificate. [S560] Cass City Area Historical & Genealogy Society, "The Way it Was", "The Nestles Plant's History" Vol. 12 January/February 200 7 Number 1 (Reliability: 3). [S452] State of Kansas, Cheyenne County, Marriage License. [S653] Cass City Chronicle, P.O. Box 115, Cass City, Michigan 48726, Published continously since 1899, archived from 1899 through 2005 at http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/, September 15, 1962 (Reliability: 3). [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 134, instead shows location of marriage as Wano, Kansas (Reliability: 3). [S38] State of Michigan, Marriage License, (Eaton County, Mich Marriage License of Ben F. Benkelman Jr to Avis A. Smith, No. 155). [S81] Family Register, The Holy Bible, National Bible Press, Philadelphia, Pa. Presented to Avis Smith by her parents, December 25, 1920.