Benjamin C. White I, 78, of Libby

Benjamin C. White I, 78, of Libby died on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 at Mountain View Manor in Eureka. He was born on Nov. 24, 1937 in Rexford, the second of eight children. He grew up and went to school in Rexford and Eureka. When he quit school in the ninth grade he started work in the logging industry. Over the years he mastered every job in it, losing many fingers and suffering many broken bones in the process. Except for a few years in Silver City, Montana, (near Helena) Ben has been a Lincoln County resident. During breakup, layoffs, strikes and vacations Ben managed a few bars in Eureka and Rexford, packed and guided in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and counted fish for the Fish & Wildlife Department. He loved to hunt and fish. He loved dogs and horses and trained many over the years. He also had a race horse on the Montana circuit for a few years.

Ben logged for J. Neils, St. Regis and Champion. When Champion shut down the Rexford logging crew in 1983, he was transferred to the mill in Libby. He tried pulling at the plywood plant, but quickly transferred to the powerhouse where he did maintenance, fireman and engineer duties and worked and studied his way to first-class boiler engineer and leadman. He retired from that job in 2001, contracting as a consultant for three years after that trouble shooting.

In 1989 he purchased a commercial fishing boat and license for the Oregon coast. He fished on his vacations in Pacific City and Garibaldi, Ore. He called it legalized poaching as he could catch all the fish he wanted and sold them to the fish market instead of having to eat them. He sold his last boat in 2007. Ben loved to rodeo where he was a bronc and bull rider. When his boys were old enough he took them and several nephews to O-Mok-Sees and rodeos. He announced a few also. Ben being very generous with his time often volunteered to be the auctioneer at several charity fundraisers. He also loved to play poker and found a game wherever he went — Garibaldi, Lincoln City, and Tillamook in Oregon and Eureka, Troy and Libby in Montana. He also loved pinochle and played whenever friends and family could get three or more together.

Ben started bowling in leagues in 1988 and quickly became an addict. He always looked for tournaments and new leagues to join. He only quit in January 2015 prior to his last heart surgery. Due to a series of mini-strokes affecting his balance and coordination, he was unable to return. While in Libby he also played weekly in the mixed pool league from 1985 to 2015. Ben always told a good story and always had a crowd around him. His version was always the best and funniest with his embellishments added.

Ben married Pat Bock in 1958 and they had three children — Benjamin C. White II, Fred White and Samantha White. They later divorced. He met and married Sherrill Olson Hamilton in 1994 and her two girls, Sheri Hakala and Kim McCormick became part of Ben’s family. Ben was preceded in death by two brothers (Jesse and Bud) and three sisters (Pauline Curtiss, Nancy Totten and June Evjene).

He is survived by his wife Sherrill of Libby; his sister Stella Truman and borther Dale White, both of Eureka; his sons Benjamin of Eureka; and Fred of Neola, Iowa; his daughter Samantha of Rexford; stepdaughters Sheri Hakala of Libby; Kim McCormick of Rockford, Wash.; 15 grandchildren, Benjamin White III of Eureka, Ryan Tibesar of Lake Stevens; Wash.; Raven White of Lewistown; Colten and Emmett White of Neola, Iowa; Caleb White of Shelby, Iowa; Ethan White of Fountain, Colo.; Loren White of Eureka; Melissa Fortier of Rexford; Sandy Mueller of Post Falls, Idaho; Robert Hamilton of Libby; Courtney Wasata of Bothel, Wash.; William, Mikey and Edith McCormick of Rockford, Wash.; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Per Ben’s wishes he will be cremated and there will be no funeral. A potluck Celebration of his Life will be held in Rexford at the Bowl on Abeyance Bay on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 at 4 p.m. Another Celebration of Life will be held in Libby or Troy at a later date. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Eureka. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.