Benjamin Franklin York

SIDNEY - Benjamin Franklin "Ben" York, 90, a long-time resident of Sidney, died Sept. 13, 2007, in Sidney.

Family services will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home, and funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18 at the Pella Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Sidney Cemetery under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Foundation for Community Care or your favorite charity.

Ben was born on June 29, 1917, to Vern Earl and Archilene (MacLachlan) York in Osseo, Wis. He was raised on a farm near Selfridge, N.D. and graduated from Selfridge High School in 1935. Following graduation from high school he spent a year in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He then attended the North Dakota State School of Science at Wahpeton where he graduated from a two-year electrical trade curriculum in 1938. After graduation Ben relocated to Sidney and started work with Sidney Electric, and from 1940 to 1945 he was employed as an electrician for the Holly Sugar Corporation.

Ben married Verna V. Johnson of Plaza, N.D. in Sidney on Aug. 7, 1942.

In 1945 he co-founded a plumbing, heating and electrical firm called Your Service Company with Bazz Coffrin and Hank Whittaker. It was during this time that he learned the plumbing trade and ultimately became the sole owner of the company?York, Inc. Ben retired as a Master Plumber and Master Electrician in 2002, at the age of 85, after being in business for 57 years. He was highly regarded for his mechanical skills and for the professionalism of his work.

Ben learned to fly in the late 1940's, and he and Verna enjoyed flying all over the United States in his airplane. They also traveled around the world on various trips and cruises.

Ben was a member of the Pella Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Lower Yellowstone Masonic Lodge No. 90, was Lodge Master in 1954, and served as treasurer for 21 years. Ben was the Grand Master of the Masons of Montana from 1981-1982. He was a member of the Scottish Rite bodies in Billings and president of the Sidney Scottish Rite Club in 1968. Ben was also a member of the Yellowstone Chapter No. 5 Royal Arch Masons, Glendive Council No. 5 Cryptic Masons and Damascus Commandery No. 4 Knights Templar, Glendive York Rite bodies. In addition Ben was a member of the Mystic Shrine, being a Noble of Al Bedoo Temple in Billings, and he was a member of the Richland Chapter No. 62 Order of the Eastern Star.

He is survived by his brother Bill York, West Lake, Ore.; his son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Helen York of Baton Rouge, La.; his daughter, Francine York of Alexandria, Va.; three grandchildren, Marshall York of New York City, Amy Caldwell of Lake Charles, La., and Douglas York of Baton Rouge, La.; and two great-grandchildren, Meredith and Russell Caldwell.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Verna, and by his brother, Tom York.