Ben Unrau

Ben Unrau was born on Jan. 17, 1915, in Bingham, Minn., the son of Peter H. and Eva (Becker) Unrau. In 1916, he moved to Lustre with his parents and seven brothers and sisters. His two younger sisters were born in Montana.

He completed the eighth 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, Calif.

He 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.

He enjoyed retirement, spending time with friends and family. He moved to Glasgow in 2006 and made new friends at Nemont Manor. At the age of 98 he moved to Valley View Home.

After retiring, he 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. He was an avid reader, was self-educated, had a great sense of humor and enjoyed visiting with friends and family.

He married Beatrice Patton in 1943; she died in 1956.

He was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Anna Unger, Susan Toavs, Henry Unrau, Peter Unrau, Eva Stunkart, Toby Unrau, Agnes Baerg and Nellie Baerg; and nieces and nephews.

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

A funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, followed by burial in the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow.

Bell Mortuary in Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.