Benny Ray “Ben” Hardman, 63, of Bronson died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at his home.
He was born Dec. 8, 1947, in Hastings, Neb., to Calvin and Mildred (Adkins) Hardman. He graduated from Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, Calif. Following school he began working at E.T. Mags in Benicia, Calif.
On Aug. 29, 1981, he married Sharon L. “Rosie” Bracken in Benicia. His career in die casting took him and his family to Michigan before they eventually made their way to southeast Kansas in 1986 living in Iola. He went on to open his own die cast manufacturing business in Bronson and eventually moved there in 1999. The couple owned and operated Rosie’s Landmark in Moran and Uncle Ben’s in Bronson. His wife died on Nov. 3, 2010.
He is survived by four brothers, Larry and his wife, Candy, Bend, Ore., Kenny and Esther, Palmdale, Calif., Gary and his wife, Nancy, Bigfork, Mont., and Barry and Patty, Newton; a sister, Cheryl Hardman, Wichita; sister-in-law, Debbie Hardman, Agua Dulce, Calif.; a son, Rick Curl, Iola; three daughters, Cheryl Rush, Tracy, Calif., Brenda Bassett, Hutchinson, and Vicky Morgan, Farlington, Mo.; 14 grandchildren, Kim Dodson, Chris Rouse, Rebecca Hanson, Brittany Jackson, Benjamin Jackson, Ariane Cottrell, Chenine Cottrell, Albert Cottrell, Briana Barnes, Taylor Curl, Brandon Vinall, Heather Curl, Kristen Peppmeir and Kimberly Brenneman; and 15 great-grand- children.
A brother, Ronnie, died on July 28, 2011.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Moran.
The family will greet friends following the service.
Memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society may be left at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
‘Ben’ Hardman
