Benjamin Lynch Stevens

Benjamin Lynch Stevens passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at the Sidney Health Center. He was born May 25, 1938, to Bonnie and Helen John Stevens and raised on a small farm north of Tonasket, Washington. In 1956 he joined the United States Navy, going to boot camp and class A school in San Diego, California. While in the Navy, Ben spent two years in California, including duty on Skaggs Island — a small island in northern San Francisco Bay — and two years in the Philippine Islands. He was discharged in 1960.

Ben then went to work for Great Northern Railroad as a telegrapher for five years, owned restaurants and bars in Libby and Eureka for the next fifteen years, and settled in Sidney in 1980, where he worked for several trucking companies over the years.

Ben married Ethel Berndt in 1998 and semi-retired in 2005. He and Ethel enjoyed traveling, summers at the lake, woodworking and a little golf. Ben also enjoyed cooking family dinners on Friday evenings at the Moose Lodge.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Clarice Som.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel; daughter Deena Stevens and her children Heather Rash and Jennifer Jackson; son Adam (Brooke) Stevens and their children Benjamin and Lucas; daughter Bonny Stevens; sons Mark and Dave Stevens; brother Wayne Stevens; sisters Donna Mustard, Vera Richards, Charlotte Johnson, Jeanie Hargis, Wilma Judkins, Cathy Moore and Kay Harris; and great-grandchildren Kacy Pugh, Tanna Pugh and Samantha Jackson.