Harpstrite, Ben

Ben C. Harpstrite, 85, of New Baden, died Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville. He was born June 10, 1926 in Trenton, son of Benjamin A. and Ella M. (Bassler) Harpstrite. He married Eleanor E. "Ellie" Schmidt in Trenton on June 19, 1947 and she preceded him in death on March 2, 2011.
He is survived by his children, Janice L. (Michael) Hamilton, Karen S. (Mike) Riley, Cheryl A. (Rick) Parkin and Janine M. (Ed) Wuebbles all of New Baden; grandchildren, Dawn M. (Jim) Lintzenich, Ashley M. Hamilton, Jami S. (Jay) Staser, Michael J. Riley, Rick L. Riley, Kyle A. (Kristy) Bingaman, Jared J. (Kalena) Bingaman, Heidi L. (Tom) Kirchgesner, Craig W. (fiancée, Lauren Momot) Parkin, Melanie M. Wuebbles, and Joshua J. Wuebbles; great-grandchildren, Mikaela Lintzenich, Caleb Lintzenich, Ethan Riley Lemberger, Olivia Bingaman, Gryphon Kirchgesner, Aidan Hamilton, Destiny Wuebbles, Kaitlyn Staser, Torre Parsons, Kolten Staser, Hunter Parsons, Gabe Parkin, Logan Bingaman, and Payton Bingaman; a brother, Howard D. (special friend, Jackie Rickert) Harpstrite of Trenton; brother-in-law, Frank Provaznik, and sister-in-law, Kathy Schmidt both of Edwardsville; he is also survived by nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents and his wife he was preceded in death by a son, James Benjamin Harpstrite; a great-grandson, Nathan Lintzenich; a son-in-law, Dale Roy Zeller; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Wilbur A. Schmidt, Jr., Robert Schmidt, Delores Provaznik, and Gladys and Walter Pendracky; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wilbur A. and Emma M. (Slavik) Schmidt, Sr.; and his step father-in-law, William Masek.
Mr. Harpstrite was a farmer and operated Harpstrite Farms with his wife, Ellie and brother, Howard and was also an insurance agent for Harpstrite Insurance Agency. Mr. Harpstrite was elected to the Clinton County Board of School Trustees from 1950 until 1956, served as Lookingglass Township Assessor from 1956 until 1960, was a member of the Clinton County Board of Supervisors from 1960 until 1966 and was an Illinois State Representative from 1967 until 1974, serving in the 75th through the 78th General Assemblies, focusing on rural issues. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Trenton, a charter member of the New Baden Lions Club for 60 years, Trenton Masonic Lodge 109, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Southern Illinois, Ainad Shriners, Silver Lake Shrine Club, MI-CLI-BO Shrine Club, Centralia Shrine Club, The Ainad Temple Nuts and Bolts Club, he was a sponsor at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, and a member of the Eastern Star Trenton Chapter 756. He was also a member of the New Baden Chamber of Commerce and the Clinton County Farm Bureau.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Trenton with Pastor Mike Rucker officiating. Burial will follow at the Trenton Cemetery in Trenton.
Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, 2012 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden and from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Trenton. The Lions Club will visit at 7:30 p.m. and there will be a Masonic Service at 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children or to the Trenton First United Methodist Church and will be received at the funeral home.