SMITH, Benjamin 1852-1936

SMITH, THOMAS, BETTENGER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/9/2016 at 16:29:43

Ben Smith Dies At Home Of His Daughter

Widely Known Farmer And Stockbuyer Passes Away After Illness Covering Several Years

Ben Smith died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clarence Klipping, at Freeport, Ill., at 4:30 Sunday afternoon. His health had been declining for several years. He was bedfast almost continually during the past four years. He lived in Grundy Center during the greater part of his illness and for some time with his daughter, Mrs. Bert Goodell, in Lincoln township. About two months ago he was taken to the home of his daughter at Freeport. Three weeks ago he suffered a slight stroke and he failed gradually from that time on until the end came. He would have been 84 years old had he lived until the 19th of next November.

Mr. Smith was born in Clinton county, Iowa. Shortly after his marriage on March 1, 1880, he and his wife came to Grundy county. They began housekeeping on the farm in Lincoln township which Mr. Smith continued to own up to the time of his death and where he resided until Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Grundy Center 22 years ago. Mr. Smith was a successful farmer and livestock breeder and feeder. Aside from the stock that he raised, for many years he bought stock for resale. He was widely known throughout the county and he enjoyed the friendship and the confidence of a large number of friends during his long and active lifetime.

Funeral Wednesday
L. D. Coffman, undertaker, drove to Freeport Monday and brought the body to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Smith, Lincoln township. A short funeral service was held at the home Wednesday afternoon and later at the Baptist church with the local pastor, Rev. A. G. Annette, officiating. Burial was by the side of the wife in the Grundy Center cemetery. Mrs. Smith died five years ago.

Surviving are three sons and three daughters. The sons are Dr. Earl Smith of George, Iowa, Wilbur of Grundy county, and Jack of Eldora. The daughters are Mrs. Ed Springer of Strawberry Point, Mrs. Bert Goodell of Grundy county and Mrs. Clarence Klipping of Freeport. All of the children were present at the funeral service. The oldest daughter, Mrs. P. H. Fearer, died several years ago.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 25 June 1936, pg 1

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Obituary Ben Smith

Benjamin Smith, son of William and Sophia Thomas Smith, was born at Clinton, Iowa, Nov. 19, 1852, and died in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Klipping, at Freeport, Ill., June 21, 1936, at the age of 83 years, 7 months and 2 days. Death finally came after four years of lingering illness.

He was united in marriage to Lana Bettenger March 1, 1880, who preceded him in death May 30, 1929. To this union were born eight children, four girls and four boys: Minnie Fearer (deceased); Maud Springer, Strawberry Point, Iowa; Ella Goodell, Grundy Center; Anna Klipping, Freeport, Ill.; Earl of George, Iowa; Wilbur of Grundy Center; Arba (deceased); John of Eldora. These, together with seven grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Charles Bettenger of Clinton, Iowa; one brother, Isaac Smith of Grundy Center, and other relatives and friends, are left to mourn his departure.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to their farm in Grundy county immediately after their marriage and he was engaged in farming and stock-raising until he moved to Grundy Center in 1914. Mr. Smith had a large acquaintance among his fellow-men and had a splendid reputation as an honest business man.

It was about three years ago that he openly and willingly confessed Christ as his Savior, and though he was not physically able to attend the church services since that time, he requested that his funeral services be held in the church of his choice and he often spoke to his pastor of the marvelous grace of God to save sinners. We shall all miss him a great deal.

Our dead are blest, in Him they rest
Beyond all pain and care;
No tear, no sigh, no pain, no cry,
Can touch their spirits there;
In safe retreat, in joy replete,
They dwell in peace at home;
They always wait, at heavens' gate,
The hour when we shall come.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 July 1936, pg 2