Benjamin Kampf

Ben Kampf of Kalispell passed away peacefully with a smile on his face and his loving family by his side, Nov. 22, at Kalispell Health Center, as the result of an accident.

Ben was born Aug. 25, 1923, in a sod house on the family homestead near Laredo, Mont. He was the 10th of 13 children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Samuel and Christina Boschee Kampf. He attended country elementary school in Laredo and Havre High School. He was an all-state running back as a member of the Havre Blue Ponies who won the 1941, Class A state championship.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was a pharmacist mate on board the LST 486 seeing duty in the Aleutian Islands. After the war ended, he enrolled at Montana State College (now Montana State University) on the GI Bill and a football scholarship.

Ben was inducted into Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame along with other members of the 1946 Bobcat football team that won the Rocky Mountain conference championship. The 1946 football squad was the first ever to play in a bowl game. Montana State played the University of New Mexico in the Harbor Bowl on New Year's Day 1947 in San Diego. The two teams battled to a 13-13 tie.

On July 15, 1951 he married Jean Lorene Hallam in Bozeman. Ben worked as an engineer on the Burlington Northern Railroad for 35 years, retiring in 1986, and enjoying what he called, "the life of Riley, " golfing, hunting, playing billiards, skiing and watching his grandchildren participate in sports. He was an all-around athlete and enjoyed many sports, including boxing in his younger years, water and snow skiing and horseback riding, also playing cowboy polo and basketball on an independent team well into his 70th year of life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of Kalispell; his sons, Gary (Lil) Kampf of Whitefish, and Jim (Tami) Kampf of Kalispell; his daughters, Jerrine (Chuck) Gangas of Mendon, Mass., Marianne Kampf of Issaquah, Wash., and Dianne (Dave) Scotten of Lewistown; grandchildren, Christa Kampf Hall, Richie (Jessica) Kampf, Beny Kampf, Chris and Dustin Scotten, KayCee Kampf (Justin) Bryer, Jessi and Jolee Kampf, Maria and Juliana Kampf and Skylar Lystne; and great-grandchildren, Taylor and Ashley Kampf and Jack Beny Frank along with his brother, Ted and Emil Kampf; and sister, Millie Bailey; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 27, at noon, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2200 Highway 2 East, with burial in Conrad Memorial Cemetary with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Flathead Food Bank or the Veterans Food Bank.

Ben Kampf of Kalispell passed away peacefully with a smile on his face and his loving family by his side, Nov. 22, at Kalispell Health Center, as the result of an accident.

Ben was born Aug. 25, 1923, in a sod house on the family homestead near Laredo, Mont. He was the 10th of 13 children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Samuel and Christina Boschee Kampf. He attended country elementary school in Laredo and Havre High School. He was an all-state running back as a member of the Havre Blue Ponies who won the 1941, Class A state championship.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was a pharmacist mate on board the LST 486 seeing duty in the Aleutian Islands. After the war ended, he enrolled at Montana State College (now Montana State University) on the GI Bill and a football scholarship.

Ben was inducted into Montana State University Athletic Hall of Fame along with other members of the 1946 Bobcat football team that won the Rocky Mountain conference championship. The 1946 football squad was the first ever to play in a bowl game. Montana State played the University of New Mexico in the Harbor Bowl on New Year's Day 1947 in San Diego. The two teams battled to a 13-13 tie.

On July 15, 1951 he married Jean Lorene Hallam in Bozeman. Ben worked as an engineer on the Burlington Northern Railroad for 35 years, retiring in 1986, and enjoying what he called, "the life of Riley, " golfing, hunting, playing billiards, skiing and watching his grandchildren participate in sports. He was an all-around athlete and enjoyed many sports, including boxing in his younger years, water and snow skiing and horseback riding, also playing cowboy polo and basketball on an independent team well into his 70th year of life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of Kalispell; his sons, Gary (Lil) Kampf of Whitefish, and Jim (Tami) Kampf of Kalispell; his daughters, Jerrine (Chuck) Gangas of Mendon, Mass., Marianne Kampf of Issaquah, Wash., and Dianne (Dave) Scotten of Lewistown; grandchildren, Christa Kampf Hall, Richie (Jessica) Kampf, Beny Kampf, Chris and Dustin Scotten, KayCee Kampf (Justin) Bryer, Jessi and Jolee Kampf, Maria and Juliana Kampf and Skylar Lystne; and great-grandchildren, Taylor and Ashley Kampf and Jack Beny Frank along with his brother, Ted and Emil Kampf; and sister, Millie Bailey; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 27, at noon, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 2200 Highway 2 East, with burial in Conrad Memorial Cemetary with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Flathead Food Bank or the Veterans Food Bank.