Benjamin "Ben" Dais

Ben Dais passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, at the age of 95. Ben was born in 1930 in Eureka, South Dakota, to Jacob and Rosina Dais. He was the youngest of seven children. They were descendants of Germans from Russia, specifically the group that moved from the Odessa region to South Dakota, and then to Lodi.

When Ben was a young child, the family moved to Acampo, California, where Ben spent his childhood and teen years helping tend to the farm and its surrounding vineyards. Ben graduated from Lodi High School in 1948. In 1950, he married Delora and shortly thereafter they moved to Los Angeles where they spent several years before returning to Lodi.

Ben worked as an apprentice carpenter and eventually earned his own contractor license. His crew most often consisted of his brother Esra and nephews Bob, Ken, and Bill. During the next 40 years, this crew constructed many private homes, apartment complexes, and medical and commercial buildings. Ben also served as the general contractor for the building of the Church of God (7 th Day) in Lodi. Ben attended this church throughout his life, serving as board member, Bible teacher, and singing in various musical groups. Faith was an integral part of the Ben Dais household. This was reflected in his generosity, his loyalty to his family and church, and his hospitality. His daughters and granddaughter will remember him, with gratitude, as someone who worked tirelessly to provide for and protect his family, as well as making sure that we spent time with each other and with friends enjoying life.

While Ben was a hard worker, he enjoyed time in the outdoors with family and friends, taking trips to the ocean, waterskiing and swimming. He also enjoyed reading historical books and tending his cactus garden.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife, Delora, by his parents, Jacob and Rosina Dais, and by his siblings Mary Haegar, Reuben Dais, Ida Ogren, Gideon Dais, Emil Dais, and Esra Dais. He is survived by his daughters Pam Self (Neal), Sharon Griffin (Jerry) and his granddaughter Jillian Self-Cabral (Andrew).