James Bennett “Ben” Gilbert, age 83, of Tekamah, died suddenly on Monday afternoon, April 24, 1989, at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska.

Ben was born north of Tekamah on October 25, 1905, to Axel and Magdelina (Jacobson) Gilbert.

He married Myrtle Minor on June 4, 1931, at Red Oak, Iowa.

Ben and his wife farmed near Tekamah and had lived in Tekamah since 1946. He was a member of the First Baptist Church at Tekamah.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Gilbert of Tekamah; one daughter, Maxine Folsom of Tekamah; two granddaughters; one brother, Carol J. Gilbert of Tekamah, one sister Naomi Wilson of Lincoln; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one granddaughter, two grandsons, two brothers (Gordon and Reuben Gilbert) and two sisters (Katye Mepham and infant Elizabeth.

Funeral services were Thursday, April 27, at the First Baptist Church in Tekamah with Rev. Victor Crawford and Rev. Orval Roach officiating.

Interment was in the Tekamah Cemetery.