Benjamin W Myers
Benjamin William Myers
September 15, 1943 - February 27, 2024
Benjamin "Ben" Myers, 80, of Arkansaw, Wisconsin, a true horseman, finished his last trail ride February 27, 2024 at home.
Ben was born September 15, 1943 in Eau Galle to Dale and Isabelle (Caturia) Myers. He was the 8th of 11 children and the last one born at home.
He was raised in great places like the Buttermilk Coulee, Sunny Brook and Bien Hill. Every kid could benefit from a game of Red Rover or Annie Annie over at the Maple Ridge School. It was during these years that Ben gained a great love of animals, especially horses. He would spend the rest of his life riding, owning and training horses.
He finished his formal education, graduating from Arkansaw High School in 1962. He then followed his four older brothers and nine uncles and joined the Armed Forces with his enlistment in the US Air Force. His 4 year hitch included being based in England.
After his honorable discharge from the service he headed west and settled in Montana and found work as you would think around horses. When he returned to Wisconsin he started on the next chapter becoming a barber, and culminated in owning his own shop on Main Street in Durand. You could not only get a haircut, but great conversation. Ben also drove bus for 32 years for the school district of Arkansaw.
The love of horses would continue with Ben's Pony Rides. Thousands of children enjoyed a connection with these patient and wonderful animals. After a car accident and the loss of an arm he retired and could not own horses, but stayed involved helping with friend's animals. In those years, you could find Ben out for breakfast leading to conversation and a few cups of coffee or several. He was a fixture at family reunions and other gatherings.
Ben is survived by his sisters Nina Bechel of White Bear Lake, MN; Issy Shoop of Elk Point, SD; Lois (Ron) Charen of Sarasota, FL and Barbara (Richard) Hartung of Arkansaw; sister-in-law Bonnie Myers of Oceanside, CA. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, including great, great-great and a few great-great-great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by cousins, and friends especially John Drier Joyce and Marie Berger.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jacob, Dale, Jerry, and Duane; sisters Jane Pittman and Sharon Olson, brothers-in-laws Richard Bradshaw, David Lieffring, John Langford, Roy Milliren, Cyril Pittman, Gail Olson, Dennis Bechel, Phil Shoop and Art Bemtz; sisters-in-law Patrica & Fran Myers; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 11:00AM Friday, March 8, 2024 at St John's Catholic Church in Plum City. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/StJohnPlumCity/. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. Internment will be at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in rural Arkansaw. Reception will follow at the Arkansaw Community Center.
Rhiel Funeral Home in Durand is assisting the family.