Benedict Anthony Turgeon was born February 12, 1922 at Burke, South Dakota to Abe and Marie (Dolezal) Turgeon. He died May 17, 2006 at the Gregory Community Hospital in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 84 years.

Benedict Ben attended grade school in Todd County, South Dakota and graduated from Mission, South Dakota. After graduation he entered the United States Navy. He met and married Bernice Herman in Pierre, South Dakota. Together they lived in Burke, South Dakota, Valentine, Nebraska and Butte, Nebraska.

Ben served on the destroyer escort USS Bristol during World War II. After his service, along with George and Bob Turgeon, they ran Turgeon Brothers Garage in Burke. Ben loved to fly the plane that he put together from a kit. He and Bernice spent many hours flying until Ben decided to wing it out. After that dare devil stunt, Bernice would not fly anymore. He continued to fly until the children began to come along.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: infant Herbert, George and Robert; his sisters: Alvania, Romana, Roselia and Betty; sister-in-law, Cleon Pepper and husband Dwayne; brother-in-law, Lloyd Herman; his nephews: Kevin James and Mike Turgeon; great-niece, Rebecca A. Hubbard and niece Rita Eastlund.

Ben is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bernice of Butte, NE; sons: Thomas and wife Beverly of Omaha, NE; Steven and Brent of Long Pine, NE; his grandchildren: Christopher S. Turgeon, Christopher W. Dougherty, MaryEllen Turgeon; Harley S.L. Turgeon; his brothers: Don and wife Shirley of Wichita, KS; Clair and wife Shirley of Winner, SD; and his sister-in-law Irene and husband Pat Pine of Torrance, CA.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2006 at 10:00 AM at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte. Inurnment will be in the Graceland Cemetery of Burke. There will be a rosary on Friday at 7:00 PM at the Church.