Benjamin T. Ehly was born on June 20, 1933 to William and Lydia

Ehly on their family farm outside of Isabel, SD. He joined a sister, Ella and a brother, Alvin. He attended Isabel School and graduated in 1952. On May 23, 1954, he married the love of his life, Bonita Lucille Miller at the Congregational Church in Isabel, SD. After graduating from Isabel High School, he and Bonita were off to Northern State Teacher’s College for a ten week training session. He and Bonita earned their degrees in Education and Ben also got a minor in Physical Education. He taught at Huck School after getting his teaching permit 8 miles south of Keldron, while Bonita was at Liebelt School, 13 miles south of Isabel. In 1955, Ben and Bonita moved to Firesteel, SD where they became part of a “family community” as the “new teachers”, for the next 12 years. It was while they lived and taught in Firesteel, that they had their only child, Kelley Rae, on December 11, 1960. She was the light of their lives for the last 57 years. In 1967, Ben, Bonita, and Kelley moved to Timber Lake where they resided in the newly built Carl Meyer house at 110 5th Street. Ben and Bonita contin-ued long, wonderful, and rewarding teaching careers for the next 47 “Consecutive” Years. Ben and Bonita earned their Master’s Degrees in School Administration. Ben was an integral part of Timber Lake High School Athletics and had many successful Football, Basketball, Track, and Cross Country Teams. He leaves behind a Coaching Legacy no one will ever forget. He loved Teaching and Coaching and thought of all of his students and players as “his kids.” He had a 97-59 Football record at Timber Lake. On August 28, 1982, Kelley married Melvin Paul Traversie. Between 1991-1993, Kelley and Melvin blessed Ben and Bonita with 4 wonderful grandchildren, Kasidee Jade, Ty Paul, Andrew Benjamin, and Jordyn Rae. These grandkids became such an important part of their lives and they loved being their “Papa and Nanny”. They became their passion and they have been the joy of their lives for the past 27 years. Not only were Ben and Bonita, “Papa and Nanny” to the grandkids, they became “Papa and Nanny” to all of the grand-kids’ friends and treated them all like a part of the family. Ben retired in 1999 at the age of 66, and from then on, he became a “Coach” for his grandkids in their various sports. You could always find him in the bleachers, keeping stats for the teams. He enjoyed watching his grandkids participate and excel in Basketball, Foot-ball, Volleyball, Track, Cross Country, and Rodeo. He was so very proud of his 4 grand-kids and always supported them in their many endeavors. He enjoyed being their Papa and Coach so much. He was active member in the Masonic Lodge, was the Mayor of Timber Lake, a member of the Timber Lake City Council, a member of the Timber Lake Rodeo Association, a member of the South Dakota High School Coaches Association and was nominated for South Dakota Coach of the Year, and so many other activities, awards, and clubs. He also enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Little Moreau Country Club Men’s Golf League and received many awards. A favorite quote of Ben’s was, “I’m not rich with money, but I am rich with love from all of my students and football players.” He enjoyed watching any and all sports, but he was an avid Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan. You could almost always guarantee to see him in the Vikings Purple and Gold or Twins Red and Blue, but His very favorite colors were Timber Lake Panther Maroon and Gold. He was so proud of his two great grandchildren, Taitum Arleigh and Jayden Paul. For the past 5 and 1/2 years, he resided at the Mobridge Care and Rehab Center. Surviving Ben is his daughter, Kelley Rae and son-in-law, Melvin Traversie, his grand-children; Kasidee (Julian) Whitcher, Ty (Shayna) Traversie, Andy Traversie and Jordyn Traversie. He leaves behind two great-grandchildren; Taitum and Jayden Traversie. He also leaves 2 ‘Special’ brothers-in-law, Dennis Peterson and Willard Nash. Preceding Ben in death is his wife of 57 years, Bonita Ehly, his parents, William and Lydia Ehly, brother and sister, Alvin Ehly and Ella Bachman, sisters-in-law, Dora Finley, Kay Nash, and Shirley Peterson and brother-in-law, Bud Finley, as well as his grandparents, and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

D a t e o f S e r v i c e

T i m e o f S e r v i c e

June 20, 1933 ~ September 30, 2018

Benjamin T. Ehly “Coach”

Father & Papa

A million times we thought of you, A million times we cried,

If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.

In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still.

In our hearts you hold a place No one could ever fill.

It broke our hearts to lose you.

But you didn’t go alone. For part of us went with you The day God took you home.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF:

Benjamin T. Ehly 85 Years ~ 3 Months ~ 10 Days

BORN: PASSED AWAY: June 20, 1933 September 30, 2018 Isabel, South Dakota Bismarck, North Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICES: 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 6, 2018

Timber Lake School Gym Timber Lake, South Dakota

CLERGY: Vicar Teri Gayer

EULOGY: Kasidee Whitcher ~ Hannah Lawrence

SPECIAL READINGS: Betty Ann Olson (Niece) ~ Sharon Munyon (Niece)

PIANIST: Pat K jellsen

SPECIAL MUSIC: Janal Biegler “Daddy’s Hands” ~ “Grandpa”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: “In The Garden” ~ “How Great Thou Art”

CASKETBEARERS: Kasidee Whitcher (Granddaughter) ~ Ty Traversie (Grandson)

Andy Traversie (Grandson) ~ Jordyn Traversie (Granddaughter) Brad Haack ~ Dean Fudge ~ Tony Anderson ~ Butch Bader

HONORARY BEARERS: All Ben’s Family, Friends, Former Football Players

Former Students & Co-Workers, Lloyd Kjellsen Dr. Josh Henderson & His Loved Ones

USHERS: Ron Ehly (Nephew) ~ Brian Nash (God-Son)

Colle Nash (Nephew) ~ Keith Scott (Former Football Player) Rocky Peterson (Nephew) ~ Darin Finley (God-Son)

BURIAL & MASONIC SERVICE: Timber Lake Cemetery

Timber Lake, South Dakota Arrangements Entrusted to Kesling Funeral Home.