Bernhard E. (Ben) Strohbehn, 89, passed away in the morning on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, following several years with Parkinson’s disease.
Ben was born Feb. 5, 1925, in New Plymouth, Idaho, to Ed and Josie Strohbehn. In 1943 he married Dorothy Knight, who died in 1946 from complications during the birth of a stillborn son. In 1951 he married Lorraine Evans in Dodgeville, Wis. The couple recently celebrated their 63 wedding anniversary.
Ben served in the US Air Force as a navigator on a B-29 and served in both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He then taught for 10 years at Bob Jones University and pastored for 37 years in churches in Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota. He and Lorraine later travelled for 25 years in a family conference ministry in association with The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center. Ben and Lorraine also enjoyed several opportunities to work with missionaries in Venezuela, Togo, Mali, Niger, the Philippines, and several provinces in Canada. He authored several articles for Christian publications and a book on family relationships, titled Home Sweet Home. In the last year, he completed a study in Proverbs, titled The Words of the Wise, which will be published posthumously.
He is survived by his wife: Lorraine, Nappanee; his son: Ed, Brooklyn, N.Y.; his daughters: Marcia (Brent) Ritchardson, Brownstown, Mich.; Karen (Dennis) Anderson, Ankeny, Iowa; Brenda Strohbehn, Nappanee; his grandchildren: Joshua (Stephanie) Anderson, Jillian Anderson, Janelle (Will) Thorsen and Eric Ritchardson; two great-grandchildren: Kaleb and Makayla Anderson; seven nieces and nephews; and a host of Christian believers to whom he ministered (who often affectionately referred to him as Dr. Ben)
He was preceded in death by his parents; his four sisters: Adeline Strohbehn, Phyllis Coonrad, Joan Hylton, and Marlys Johns; and two nieces: Addy Jo Hylton and Bonnie Cruickshank.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at Bible Baptist Church in Wakarusa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the church. Pastor David Harper and Pastor Charles R. Phelps will conduct the service. Burial will be in South Union Cemetery in Nappanee with military graveside services by Nappanee American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts may be given to The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center, Brevard, N.C.; Bible Baptist Church, Wakarusa: or Goshen Home Care and Hospice, Goshen.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at Bible Baptist Church.