(picture) (veteran)

Ben Peck, Area Pioneer Died Thurs.

Resident Of County Since 1879 Has Seen Many Changes

Ben F. Peck, a member of a pioneer Washington County family, died Thursday, August 14, 1969 at the Blair Hospital. He had been in failing health the past year.

Mr. Peck was born at Belle Plaine, Iowa, November 26, 1873, and came to Washington County at the age of six with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Peck, traveling to this area by covered wagon.

On April 3, 1901, Mr. Peck was married to Louisa E. Compton, of Blair. Three years ago he and his wife observed their 65th wedding anniversary.

During the Spanish American War he served with the 3rd Nebraska Infantry Regiment, Company E in Cuba.

After farming in the Washington and Burt County area, he retired in Blair in 1939 where he has since resided.

Surviving Mr. Peck are his wife, Louisa E., three sons, Harold of Nickerson, Nebr., Sheldon of Windsor, Missouri; and Cecil of Blair; and one daughter, Mildred Robeson of Huntsville, Alabama. Another daughter, Dorothy Wilder, preceded him in death. A brother, Fred and a sister Blanche Warrick also survive. Twenty-one grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 18 at 2:00 at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Atherton officiating. The Bendorf Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Serving as pallbearers will be six grandsons: Dean Peck of Hooper; Keith Peck of Nickerson; Earl Peck of Ionia, Missouri; Steven Peck of Blair; Philip Robeson of Huntsville, Alabama; and Dick Wilder of Redwood City, California.

Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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