Benjamin Paul Whitley

Benjamin Paul Whitley, age 33, of Tea, SD, passed away unexpectedly on September 29th, 2025, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Ben was born on December 27th, 1991, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Troy and Cate (Swanson) Whitley. He spent his earliest years in Sioux Falls before the family moved to Yankton, SD, in 1997. Now joined by his beloved baby sister Samantha, Ben enjoyed a carefree childhood running around their large backyard with their neighborhood friends. He spent many hours working on cars, as well as restoring trains and carousels with his dad, in “the shop” in the backyard. Although Ben jokingly referred to these hours as “slave labor,” he immensely enjoyed working on these projects with his dad and all the adventures that accompanied them, including chasing down an old 1969 Chevy van from a group of hippies in Utah. Ben and his mom enjoyed playing catch together in the side yard, as well as the occasional “hooky day” from school watching movies and cuddling. His family meant the world to him, and he was so happy to welcome in his “bonus siblings,” Kaitlyn and Noah, when Troy married Jody in 2014. He truly considered the three of them family and enjoyed developing his own special, unique relationships with all of them.

Ben attended school in Yankton from kindergarten through high school, graduating in 2010, before heading off to the University of Sioux Falls to study Business Administration.

Ben was active in his home church in Yankton, Calvary Baptist Church, throughout his childhood, attending Sunday services, Sunday school, and Awana every week. He devoted his life to Jesus at a very young age but always said that his faith became truly his own following a mission trip to Marvell, Arkansas, the summer before his freshman year. After this trip, Ben became even more involved in the church youth group, most notably behind the sound booth, but also as a student discipleship leader. He was a spiritual role model to students and adults alike.

Youth group brought Ben and his high school sweetheart, Sara Watt, together as well. It was within this group that the two became close friends before beginning to date in 2008. They most enjoyed going fishing together out at Lake Yankton, but were happy just to be together. No matter what they were doing, it was almost always accompanied by Mello Yellow, Smarties, and Zebra Cakes.

Sara followed Ben to the University of Sioux Falls in the fall of 2011, and the two were engaged by December of that year. They were married at Calvary Baptist Church in Yankton on June 8th, 2013. Together, they joyfully welcomed Elyse, Oliver, and Isaiah into their lives, living in Sioux Falls for many years before settling in Tea, SD, in 2022. Ben adored being a dad; it was a role he not only took very seriously but one that he enjoyed immensely. He loved taking the kids on special, individual trips and outings while also implementing meaningful family rituals like Friday “Pizza and Movie Night” and watching AFV during “Family Laugh Night.” Ben was the one the kids went to when awoken by a bad dream, knowing Daddy would pray for their hearts to calm down. He was an incredible spiritual leader to the entire family.

Ben held various product management roles throughout the years before landing his dream job at Smart Church Solutions in 2023. There, he was privileged to spread his wings and skill set to go far beyond the role of a product manager and be a part of the Executive Team to set the course, direction, and strategy for the entire company. Although he loved his work, his faith and his family were his true passions. Ben remained involved in church ministry throughout his entire adult life. In college, Ben and Sara began attending Faith Baptist Fellowship in Sioux Falls, and it didn’t take long for the church technology leader to recruit him to help run the sound booth on Sunday mornings. He served on various boards and leadership teams and was an integral part of helping launch a second site of the church, Risen Hope Baptist Church, in 2018. He served as the Technology Coordinator, a Life Group Leader, and as an Elder while also teaching Sunday school and Wednesday night Bible Study, coordinating Men’s Prayer Breakfasts, and even preaching on occasion. His faith was not just a part of his life; it was his entire life. He loved the Lord with his whole heart and was constantly pursuing holiness in every area of his life.

When he wasn’t serving in the church or spending time with his wife and children, Ben enjoyed collecting as many cars as he could, fishing with his best friend Tim, hunting with his dad and brothers, tinkering on the endless projects he always had in the works, and listening to his favorite band, Crowder.

Ben is survived by his wife, Sara, their three children, Elyse, Oliver, and Isaiah; his parents, Cate Swanson Whitey, Troy (Jody) Whitley; siblings Samantha (Brandon) Podhradsky, Kaitlyn (Matt) Duerr, and Noah (Mariah) Kottke; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD, from 4-6 pm on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Our sincere thanks to Faith Fellowship Church for graciously allowing us to use their parking lot for overflow parking during Ben’s visitation on Sunday, October 5, 2025, should the need arise.

Funeral will be held at Faith Baptist Fellowship Church at 10:00 am on Monday, October 6, 2025. Internment at Hills of Rest Cemetery will immediately follow the service/luncheon.

The service will be livestreamed throught the church at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmOdzuCkqwo

https://www.faithsf.com/watch-live