Benjamin L. Reagle

Benjamin Leroy Reagle, of Salmon, Idaho passed away peacefully on November 26, 2012, at a local hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was born at the Wood Ranch in Stevensville, Montana on May 23, 1920. He was the third and last son of Charles and Ella Wood Reagle.

Big for his age, he helped with milking twice daily and feeding bum lambs, calves, pigs and chickens; in addition to the usual ranch work. He was involved in the collection of milk cans for delivery to the creamery. A bonus was the motorcycle with a side car to pick up the cans. He loved the pickup method. This money he used to help pay for the elopement and wedding.

He and his wife met on a blind date. They married after a whirlwind romance on August 2, 1939, in Stevensville, Montana. Grandpa and Namesake, Benjamin F. Wood, proudly stood up with them; His Grandpa said “A good woman will be the making of Ben!” Phyllis was one of the greatest blessings of his life, his wife of 66 years, preceded him in death on August 19, 2005. Smaller blessings were his four daughters: Julia Ann (1940), Sharron Lee (1943), Annette Jill (1948) and Susan Joy (1952).

Ben enlisted in the US Navy in 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was an outdoorsman; enjoying fishing and hunting. We camped before it was fashionable, roughing it on heavy quilts covered with a tarp to keep the wet night dew off of our bedding. He was always up at the crack of dawn, catching as many fish as he could before the rest of the parties were even awake. He also enjoyed many occupations; mining many minerals, including Gold, Copper and Turquoise. He worked in the timber, bringing down five cords at a time at the peril of family and equipment. He had a natural ability to look at, start up and operate any heavy equipment. He contracted, surveyed and constructed private roads. He was an exceptional car salesman. While working for the Ford dealership he sold every model car Ford had made. He was recognized the ‘Top Salesman in the Pacific Northwest for the Year”.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Ella, his wife, Phyllis, his brothers: Robert and Leonard, a daughter Julia Ann, his granddaughters: Margaret (Peggy) and Melody.

He is survived by his daughters: Sharron (John), Annette (Charles) and Susan (Mario), 13 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

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