Benjamin A. Eck, son of Andrew and Maria (Wedel) Eck, was born in Ostrog, Poland, Russia on Dec. 4, 1857. He departed this life peacefully at 11:27 a.m. June 16, 1955, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Pete Kliewer at Fairview, Okla., where he had lived the past 18 years.
At the age of 17 years he came with his parents to America, abord the SS Vaderland, during the great Mennonite migration of 1874, settling in McPherson county, Kansas.
On June 19, 1879, he was united in marriage to Susanna Becker and they with their children moved to Oklahoma in 1894, homesteading four miles north of Ringwood. Eighteen children were born to this union, only ten of whom are now living. His wife preceded him in death on May 4, 1934.
Mr. Eck was baptized by Elder Tobias Unruh before leaving Poland in 1874. when the New Hopedale Mennonite Church was organized at Meno he became a member of that church, where his membership remained until his death. He attended church regularly wherever he lived until his eyesight and hearing became so bad church attendance was impossible.
He liked to be busy, always raising big gardens until the last few years. He took great pride in caring for the yard and raising vegetables. He enjoyed visiting with his relatives and friends and through the use of a hearing aid was able to enjoy the radio until the last year or so. The last of his family, his youngest brother, passed away in January 1953 and since that time he had often expressed a desire to go on. Mr. and Mrs. Kliewer and another daughter Lena, who has lived in the Kliewer family the past seven years, have cared for their father through these years which he endured patiently, until he lost all desire to live and passed on quietly June 16.
Survivors include six sons, David B. of Newton, Kans., Jacob B., of Walsh, Colo., Reuben B. of Fairview, Joel L. of Alameda, Calif., Abe C. of Enid, and Daniel L. of Wilmington, Calif.; four daughters, Lena E. Eck and Mrs. Pete Kliewer of Fairview, Mrs. Elizabeth E. Smith, Fullerton, Calif., and Susie L. Eck, Los Angeles; 38 grandchildren, 85 great-grandchildren, as well as a host of other relatives and friends.