Source: Ben Kraft obituary
SD Nat. Guard - 200th in Afganistan 2020 - 2011
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Kraft
Sources: Author: N.N. (anonymous), Title: "Ben Kraft," (Publication location: Mobridge, SD, Publisher: Kesling Funeral Home, Publication date: Dec MMXIV), Repository: The Cloud
Link: https://www.keslingfuneralhome.net/obituary/2856542
"Ben Kraft
November 28, 1990 - December 8, 2014
Funeral services for Ben Kraft 24 of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of Mobridge will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 13, 2014 at United Congregational Church, Mobridge, SD. Visitation Friday, December 12, 2014 from 4PM to 7PM with prayer service at the church. Burial at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Wessington Springs, SD, Monday, December 15, 2014, 1PM under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Ben passed away December 8, 2014 at his home in Sioux Falls.
Benjamin Charles Kraft was born on November 28, 1990 to parents Keith Clifford and Debra Kae (Buffington) Kraft in Wessington Springs. Ben attended kindergarten at Wessington Springs Elementary. He attended 1st through 3rd grade at Bristol Elementary in Webster Groves Missouri, a suburb of St Louis while his dad was going through seminary at Eden seminary. After the family moved to Mobridge in 2000 Ben attended school in Mobridge graduating from Mobridge/Pollock High School in 2009. In high school Ben was active in sports (wrestling, football, cross country, track), music (chorus and band), and drama and Oral Interp. He was a 4 year All-State Chorus participant.
Ben joined the South Dakota National Guard in 2008, completing his basic training and advance individual training in 2009, and was a member of the 200th Engineering Battalion stationed in Mobridge, Pierre, and Chamberlain. Ben served a year of active duty with the 200th in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011.
Ben attended a year and a half of further education at Northern State University before his tour of duty in Afghanistan. While in Northern he was active in speech, as well as both music and drama participating in several productions. After Ben returned from Afghanistan, Ben transferred to Augustana University in Sioux Falls where he majored in drama, speech, and religion. On his summer breaks Ben continued to explore his love for the theater spending one summer with Northern Fort Theater at Fort Sisseton and one summer with the Black Hills Playhouse in Custer State Park.
Benjamin was a member of the United Congregational United Church of Christ in Mobridge as well as a member of the Spirit of Peace United Church of Christ in Sioux Falls. In United Congregational UCC Ben was an active member of the choir and the youth group. Ben and his fiancé, Hailey were both active participants in the activities at Spirit of Peace.
Ben is survived by his parents, Debra and Keith Kraft of Mobridge SD, one sister, Valissa and Alex Farrell of Rapid City SD, one brother, Andrew and Jessica Kraft of Parker CO, his fiancé, Hailey De Yonge, and one dearly beloved niece Julianne Kraft of Parker CO.
Ben is preceded in death by one paternal grandmother, Thelma Kraft, and one maternal grandmother Darlene Buffington."
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