Benjamin DeLeo

Benjamin DeLeo

74, of Cascade

Benjamin “Ben” Anthony DeLeo, 74, of Cascade, passed away April 22, 2016.

The vigil service will be April 28, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The funeral liturgy will immediately follow at noon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cascade. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Ben was born on May 6, 1941. He was the oldest of 11 children and he was forever the proud son of Ben and Patricia DeLeo and in fulfilling his role of big brother. He attended grade school in Renton, Wash., graduated Issaquah Washington High School and attended Seattle University. He moved to Montana in 1962, and met the woman he loved, Vivian Mills. Ben and Vivian were married 53 years and were the parents of six children, Lisa (Rory) Roberson of Manchester, Mitch DeLeo of Helena, Christina DeLeo of Boise, Idaho, Shannon Bussey of Lewistown, B.J. DeLeo of Pompey’s Pillar and Vianne (Elliott) Holloway of Mary Esther, Fla.

He loved life and most of all loved helping people. He lifted everyone’s spirit by telling his funny jokes and by his big smile.

Ben spent years working hard in the construction industry. He was a superintendent, overseeing the building of large projects in several states. He retired from Sletten Construction and at that time it was noted that Ben had driven a million miles on job related work. It seemed that every gas station and restaurant that he would pass through, someone would grab him and say, “Is that you Ben?” He knew so many people.

He worked a 12 step program and was a very active member in the Catholic Church. He was well known for his cooking expertise when church dinners were served. He even sewed aprons for his crew to wear.

Ben said he used the letter “F” to guide his lifestyle: Family, food, faith, friends, fishing, farm and funny stories. He has asked that everyone celebrate where he is going, not where he has been.

He will be greatly missed as a husband, father and brother. He was the proud grandfather of 17 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He loved his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Family reunions were the highlight of the year. We’ll all miss his rousing wake-up call in the morning at the crack of dawn. 

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Patricia DeLeo; sister Teresa and a granddaughter Camilla DeLeo.