Benjamin Robert Sanden, 59

Benjamin Robert Sanden, 59, of Thief River Falls, Minn., died Monday, August 25, 2014 at his home in Thief River Falls.

Memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 at his farm located at 24376 County Road 10 in Badger, Minn, eight miles north of Badger on Highway 3, go west on County Road 10 for three and a half miles, with Rev. Mark Helgeland officiating.

Benjamin Robert Sanden was born May 19, 1955 in Roseau, Minn., son of Bennie and Alpha (Nelson) Sanden. He was raised near Roseau and attended school there. His senior year of school he moved to International Falls where he graduated from high school. Ben worked at Boise Cascade until the shutdown in 1984. He then went to work for the state of Minnesota Highway Department.

He went back to school at Hutchinson Tech. Ridgewater where he received a degree in NDT Nondestructive Testing.

He then went to work for GE in Cincinnati, OH, on the planes that were used in the Gulf War for four years.

He then joined BGE near Baltimore, Md., where he worked five years. In 2006, he joined SGS PfiNDE traveling throughout the U.S. providing nondestructive services for the petroleum pipeline industries, where he was employed until the time of his death.

In 1976, he met the love of his life, Lucille Gartzke. To this union two children were born. The couple lived in various places in the upper Midwest making their home in International Falls. Ben enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, playing pool and bowling, and spending time online shopping for deals. He loved working and spending time on his farm. Most of all he loved the time spent with his children,grandchildren and family. He also enjoyed his dogs Miley and Dakota.

Recently a scholarship was established in his honor at Ridgewater College from a senior affiliate of SGS PfiNDE for the next 10 years.

Ben is survived by his children, Scott Sanden of Fargo, N.D., and Kristina Thompson of Thief River Falls; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Sanden, Caden Bergerson, Trevor Thompson and Ava Ehnstrom; brothers and sisters Barb Jenson of Thief River Falls, Joan Nelson of Roseau, Merlin Sanden of Badger, and Darwin Sanden of Badger, along with many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alpha and Bennie Sanden, his wife, Lucille Gartzke and his grandparents.

Arrangements were with Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls.