Ben Davis, 94

Benjamine Wilson Davis was born Feb. 13, 1913, in Albion, Wis. He was the son of Stephen Albino and Ethel Leo (Jeffrey) Davis. The Davis family, including his older sister, Margaret; moved to Rhinelander, Wis., when Ben was a year old and then moved again in 1929 to Riverside, Calif. Ben married Elizabeth "Betty" Covey on Feb. 19, 1938, in Riverside and they raised two boys there. Ben began working as a teller in a local bank soon after graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1930 and remained in that position for 19 years. Afterward,he was employed as a production worker making aluminum products until he retired. Ben and Betty loved to dance to "Big Band" music and square dance, play cards (especially cribbage) and travel. They were active members of Woodmen of the World for more than 50 years. After Ben retired, they pulled their vacation trailer all over the country eventually finding their way to Idaho, settling first in Hope where they maintained their summer headquarters and then establishing a more permanent home in Coeur d'Alene. Betty passed away in March 1990 and Ben remarried in June 1991 to Mrs. Priscilla (Haven) Sundquist in Hope, Idaho. Ben and Priscilla continued traveling, volunteering at senior centers in Rathdrum and Coeur d'Alene and maintaining friendships. For the last couple of years, Ben's health has not been good. He suffered from renal dysfunction, which ultimately caused other serious failures and brought about his death. He is survived by his wife; his sons, Malcolm (Leslie) of Dublin, Ohio, and George (Judy) of Fullerton, Calif.; three granddaughters, Diane Petersoh of Omaha, Neb., Jeanine Radtke of Bloomington, Minn., and Tracie Davis of San Diego, Calif.; a one grandson, Scott Davis also of San Diego, Calif.; and two great-grandsons, Davis and Samuel Radtke of Bloomington, Minn.. A gathering will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at Yates Funeral Home — Hayden Gathering Center in Hayden. Please visit Ben's online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.