Ben Unrau

Ben Unrau was born on January 17, 1915 in Bingham, Minnesota, the son of Peter H. and Eva (Becker) Unrau.

In 1916, he moved to Lustre, Montana with his parents and seven brothers and sisters. His two younger sisters were born in Montana.

Ben completed the 8th grade in 1929 and then worked on the family farm until 1934. For the next five years he worked on the Fort Peck Dam. In the fall of 1939 he moved to Los Angeles, looking for employment that didn’t require heavy physical work. Feeling the need to become educated he enrolled in night high school classes and sheet metal training. In 1940 he went to work for Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, CA.

Ben was drafted during World War II, and served in the Navy from 1944-1945. He returned to Los Angeles and continued aircraft machine work until he retired in 1980. Ben enjoyed retirement; spending time with friends and family. He moved to Glasgow in 2006 and made new friends at the Nemont Manor. At the age of 98 he moved to the Valley View Home.

After retiring, Ben learned to square dance and enjoyed traveling to dances. One of his diaries records that he took dance lessons when he first moved to California. He enjoyed it when family would visit him in California and he remembered the names and other information about his many nieces and nephews, Ben was an avid reader was self-educated, had a great sense of humor and enjoyed visiting with friends and family.

Ben married Beatrice Patton in 1943; she died in 1956. Ben is preceded in death by brothers and sisters; Anna Unger, Susan Toavs, Henry Unrau, Peter Unrau, Eva Stunkart, Toby Unrau, Agnes Baerg, and Nellie Baerg. He is also preceded by nieces and nephews.

Survivors include his sister, Ruth Coulter in Maryland, his sister in law, Margaret Unrau and many nieces and nephews.

Service Schedule

Funeral Service

11:00 AM

Monday December 14, 2015

Bell Mortuary

701 2nd Avenue South

Glasgow, MT 59230

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