Benjamin Douglas Stewart

1950 - 2022

Benjamin Douglas Stewart, 71, passed away at his home Jan. 7, 2022, with his two dogs by his side. Just how he would have wanted to.

Ben was born Sept. 6, 1950, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Benjamin D. and Alice E. (Smith) Stewart, starting the third generation of Alaskans for our family. Ben was the first born of twin boys. Sadly, his brother passed shortly after birth. His sister Adrienne would come along just a few years later.

Ben spent his childhood raising hell everywhere he went, following his father throughout the territory and state of Alaska - Juneau, Valdez, Fairbanks and every highway department facility along the way.

As a teenager, Ben traveled with his mom and sister to join their dad in Laos, where he worked as a road engineer for USAID. While there, Ben continued raising hell and eventually was sent back state side to finish high school, graduating in 1968 from St. Martins in Washington state.

In the summer of 1968, Ben made his way to Fairbanks, where he attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This is where he met his lifelong friend, Michael Jones. Together the two of them really knew how to have a good time.

In the spring of 1969, Pops began seasonal work for Alaska DOT. We've been told that his father made sure he got the job. Road building and road maintenance were in his genes. He eventually quit school to work full time. That turned into his lifelong career, resulting in more than 35 years of bouncing up and down the roads and highways.

In 1975, Ben married his second wife, Laura. In 1980, they began a family that eventually included four children: Benjamin Jr. "Jamie" (Elizabeth), Katherine "Katie", William "Billy" and Robert "Bob." Once again, Ben was really good at raising hell. Ben and Laura would divorce in 1995.

At this point Pops took a break from the married life and just worked, as he said, "I gotta pay that child support."

In the early 2000s, Ben would get married to his third wife, Teresa, bringing her two children into the nest. As it turns out, Pops was just hard to live with, and a few years later, they would also divorce.

Ben would retire from DOT in 2004.

These were Dad's best years. He was well known for spending his whole retirement checks at local greenhouses every spring and summer, and he volunteered with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs association all winter. Becoming a grandfather in 2009, Ben was all about family. He spent his last 2½ years living with his middle son, Billy, where he continued to raise hell.

Daily trips to local grocery stores and cafes to keep up with the old timers was something that he loved to do. He called it the "coffee clatch."

Ben was always regarded as a happy person and a gentle spirit. He was so proud of his family and his dogs. Just ask him!

Ben said that if anyone asks how he wanted to be remembered, please say the following: "He was a big old bear most of his life, loved his family and was one hell of a road striper with his friends 'Skip' Lyman Hamm and 'Mac' James McLean and son Bill, also a striper."

Ben is survived by his three wives, Bonnie, Laura and Teresa; his four children, Jamie (Liz), Katie, Billy and Bobby; two stepchildren, Ernie and Davis; all of Fairbanks; and several cousins from the Stewart family. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Clairice, Benjamin (Cheesy) and Thomas of Fairbanks; and two stepgrandchildren; Peyton Merideth of Missoula, Montana, and Hunter Merideth, proudly serving in the U.S. Navy.

He was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin D. and Alice E. Stewart, his twin brother Hawley Bruce and sister Adrienne "Snow" Snow. He is also predeceased by two half siblings, Benjamin Brown and Janice Allen.

A celebration of his life will be held at 5-8 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Moose Lodge in Fairbanks. All who knew Ben are welcome to attend. Feel free to bring a dish and share and your stories.