Benjamin J. Herres Obituary (1919

'Everyone ought to be remembered for something,' Ben Herres mused not long ago. He'd be pleased to know that whether he was called Ben or Dad or Grandpa, Ben Herres will long be remembered not for one thing, but for many: his wit, his love of learning, his faith and devotion to family. Ben was a humorist in the Will Rogers tradition, always ready with a quip or a story. Sometimes they were from something he'd read or heard, but more often they were original. Whatever their source, they were memorable and genuinely witty. Those who knew him well begin many conversations with, 'Do you remember Ben's comment about....' And laughter always follows. The value of education was a cornerstone of life for Ben. He shared that commitment with his beloved late wife, Ollie. When their children were in high school, she went back and completed high school, then completed college. After she graduated from Holy Names College in 1960, Ben began his quest for the degree he hadn't been able to pursue after high school. Eventually, he accrued enough credits and course work at Whitworth College to graduate a proud member of the class of 1970. He was 50 years old when he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In recent years, when Ollie, and later Ben, were residents at the Living Care Retirement Community in Yakima, they often counseled staff aides that they too could go to college, regardless of age. His faith and his family were part of the silent strength of this unforgettable man. A lifelong Catholic, he was a steadfast member of St. Pascal's Parish in the Spokane Valley and then Holy Family Catholic Church in Yakima. His faith sustained him through the more than 40 years Ollie suffered with multiple sclerosis. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before her death in 2006. During his working career, Ben was employed as a millwright and carpenter, as operator of the Upriver Dam on the Spokane River, and as a manager of the Goodwill Industries production facility in Spokane. He then 'retired' to volunteer at Allied Arts of Yakima Valley, upgrading and repairing that building. Ben died May 24 of congestive heart failure; he was 97 years old. His family includes his three children: Phil Herres (Lorelei); Elizabeth Herres Miller (Carter) and Larry Herres (Alice Kier); ten grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. In addition to Ollie, he was pre-deceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Lewis and Edna Herres; his nephew Jim Herres; and two great-grandchildren, Rachel Wright and Isabella Herres. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated July 8th at 11 a.m. at St. John's Church, 206 Moxee Ave., Naches, WA. Memorials in Ben's name may be sent to LaSalle High School, 3000 Lightning Way, Union Gap, WA 98903. SERVICES Funeral service Saturday, July 8, 2017 11:00 AM St. John Parish 206 Moxee Ave. Naches, WA