Benedict Henry “Ben” Wolken was born on the family farm in Anderson County, Kan., May 20, 1924, and died Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at the age of 85 years, after a brief stay at the Golden Heights Living Center in Garnett, Kan. Ben was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph “Joe” and Laura (Egidy) Wolken.

Ben was a lifetime member of St. Boniface Catholic Church at Scipio, Kan.

He was a traditional farmer/stockman, having raised all significant species of livestock at one time or another. Being a bachelor on the farm kept him close by to care for his animals on a daily basis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Laura; sisters, Bertha Kempf and her husband, Leonard, Bernice Pfannes and her husband, Leonard, Leona Crossley and her husband, Donald; brothers, Adolph, Lawrence and his wife Margret (Sobba), Bernard, and infant Vitas.

He is survived by his sister, Ann, whose husband was the late Conrad (Coonie) Hermreck; sister-in-law, Anna Marie (Mrs. Bernard Wolken); 28 of his 31 nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Scipio, Kan., where a rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. Friday, followed by family and friends visitation from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Boniface Catholic Church, in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa KS 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net and made at www.ottawaherald.com.

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