Obituary: Alexander, Leo Bennett “Ben”
Age 62
He was one of two children born to Garnet Evonne Bennett and Harry Alexander.
Ben grew up in Reardan, WA where he graduated from high school in 1971.
He served with distinction in the Navy, Naval Reserves, and Army Reserves from 1971 to 1989, when he retired with the rank of CPT.
He received a combat action ribbon with two Bronze Stars for serving in the Vietnam Conflict.
In 1976 Ben married Linda Wiegand, and by 1987 was raising a family of three in Montana.
The family moved back to Reardan, WA in 1990 to run the family farm.
Ben and Linda divorced after a 20 year union.
Ben returned to Montana in 2000 to work for the railroad, retiring in 2014 after 14 years.
During this time he also met and eventually married Sherry Brock in 2014.
Ben had many hobbies he enjoyed both before and during retirement.
These included hunting with his Labradors, reading, wood-working, collecting and restoring firearms, being active in the American Legion, the VFW, the Lutheran Church, the NRA, and the Lions Club.
On the early a.m. of Thursday (January 8th, 2015) Ben apparently got out of bed and collapsed in his office, where he was found dead by his wife later that morning.
He was 62 years old.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Sherry Brock of Gildford; two sons, Luke Alexander (wife, Sarah) of Reardan, WA and Matt Alexander of Gildford; one daughter, Ruth Rose Baker (husband, Ben) of Renton, WA; one granddaughter, Noelle Baker; one sister, Becky Seim of Reardan, WA; one stepson, Toby Nelson of Puyallyp, WA; one stepdaughter, YoLande Lyons of Bonneylake, WA; one stepgranddaughter, Cheyenne Nelson; and several nieces and nephews.
Ben will be cremated per his wishes and his ashes will be buried in a National Veteran’s Cemetery.
Services are to be held at Galada, MT Legion hall on Monday, January 19th at 11:00 AM.
Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.