CHINOOK - Ben Paul Fisher, 74, a farmer, rancher and Air Force veteran, died Tuesday, May 3, 2005, at a Great Falls hospital of complications from a fall.
His funeral is 2 p.m. Saturday at Assembly
of God Church in Chinook, with burial in Kuper Memorial Cemetery.
Ben was born Sept. 14, 1930, at home in Hopp Iliad, south of Big Sandy, to
Louis J. and Julia (Vrabel) Fisher. He went to school at Hopp Iliad until eighth grade, then attended high school in Helena and Big Sandy, going on to receive a GED through the Air Force. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1953, and pursued his enjoyment of flying for several years, when he purchased his own private Cessna. Throughout most of his life, he enjoyed casually strumming his guitar and singing western tunes he performed while in a band that played for many old-time dances.
In 1955, Ben married Beverly Ann (Hartman) Owens, and lived on the farm where Ben was raised. The couple raised four children on the farm until they moved the family to Big Sandy to be closer to the public schools. While living in Big Sandy, Ben worked as a Texaco gas station attendant and grade school custodian. He was also an active community member through involvement in the Big Sandy Fire Department and Big Sandy Rifle Club. As time passed, Ben relocated as opportunity presented itself, each time using his carpentry and mechanical skills to make either his home more comfortable or to cut the costs of labor. In 1970, Ben made his final home in Chinook and added a new daughter to his family as well. In 1980, with his family close by to help, he completely designed and built the home south of Chinook, where he and Bev were residing at the time of his passing.
Ben was currently serving as a board member of Hill County Electric and was past secretary. He collected barbed wire and served as a board member of the Northern Rocky Mountain Barbed Wire Collectors Association. In the past, he served on the Farmers Union board, Central Montana Electric Co-op, and was an active FFA Alumni Association member. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepfather, Anthony Horcicka; brother, Louis Fisher; sister; and brother-in-law, Charles Hanson.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Fisher of Chinook; daughters, Lindra (Fisher) Davies of Helena and Pauline Fisher of Great Falls; sons Randall (Darla) Fisher and Fredrick (Michelle) Fisher of Chinook, and Robert (Lori) Fisher of Grand Island, Neb.; sisters, Ann Beeler and Julia O'Neil of Big Sandy and Marge Glasoe of East Helena; sister-in-law, Doris Funk; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Chinook Ambulance, P.O. Box 278, Chinook, MT.
Edwards Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
