Benjamin F. Pratt Jr.

Pratt, Benjamin F. Jr. MANSFIELD, Mo. Benjamin F. Pratt Jr., 98, a longtime resident of Route 43 "Alps" in Averill Park passed onto eternal life to be with his beloved DeEtte on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Ben passed at the Jacob House in Rogersville, Mo. after a time of declining health. Born in Austerlitz, N.Y., Ben was the son of the late Benjamin F. and Mahala Deamer Pratt Sr. and was the husband for 65 years to DeEtte Houck Pratt. Ben was raised in the "Alps" and was a graduate of the Averill Park High School. He was a graduate and valedictorian of his class at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and graduated from Union College where he received his M.B.A. Ben was a professional engineer with the State of New York. Ben worked for General Electric in Pittsfield for 42 years where he built PCB Incinerators for internal PCB's. He was a longtime active member of the West Stephentown Baptist Church where over the years he was a Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, served as trustee along with being chairman of the Board of Trustees, served on the Sunday School Building Committee, the Gleanors Adult Group, and the Bible Believers Adult Group. Ben was on the building committee for the "new" Averill Park High School in the 1950s. Ben ran a television repair service for many years, when televisions could be repaired. He was a "Mr. Fix-it" and could fix anything. He was the longtime caretaker of the Hillside Cemetery was a member of the Gratitude Masons in Nassau and served as Grand Master and more recently belonged to the Van Rensselaer Masons and was a longtime member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Interlochen Lodge in Averill Park. Ben was an avid gardener, enjoyed raising beefers and had moved to Missouri in 2015. Ben was the father of the late Benjamin F. Pratt III. Ben was the last of his siblings which included Edith Larkin, Ethel Pratt, Clarence Pratt, Margaret Coonradt, Edward Pratt, Mercedes Farmer, Ervin Pratt and Elsie Couture. Ben is survived by his children, Ruth (Joe Schultz) Pratt of Averill Park, Robert (Tracey) Pratt of East Chatham, Russell (Jill) Pratt of Averill Park and Regina (Paul)Vander Bogart of Mansfield, Mo. along with 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Relatives and friends are invited and may call from 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at the West Stephentown Baptist Church, 1672 Rte. 43, West Stephentown followed by a service at 6:30 p.m. Interment with Marine honors will be in the Hillside Cemetery, West Stephentown. The family suggest donations in memory of Benjamin F. Pratt Jr. be made to the West Stephentown Baptist Church, 1672 Rte. 43, Stephentown, NY, 12168. Visit perrykomdat.com for directions and a private guestbook.