Lager. Benedict

Benedict C. “Dick” Lager, 79, of Aviston, died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at St. Joseph Hospital in Highland. He was born September 4, 1930 in Aviston, son of Fred and Alvina (Strieker) Lager. He married Rowena Mary Paulas on April 20, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA, then married Lillian Hoake, and later married Sydney Fae Eldredge on August 5, 1972 in San Fernando, CA and she survives in Aviston. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Terence Michael Lager of Denver, CO and Thomas Allan Lager of Baker City, OR; three grandchildren, Errin Louise (Neil Lynn) Rust, Jacob Allan Lager, and Grace LeAnn Lager; two step grandchildren, Misty and Kelley; two great-grandchildren, Samantha Lynn Rust and Nicholas Joseph Rust; two sisters, Mary Ann Perkes of Breese and Caroline (Don) Tschannen of Highland; a brother, Thomas J. (Sharon) Lager of Birmingham, AL; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Vicki Louise & Joe Thoma of Quartz Hill, CA, Dora Jean & Michael Grace of Tyler, TX, and Melody Los of NH. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law, Bill Perkes and Donald Eldredge. Mr. Lager worked as a senior office machine technician for the Los Angeles Unified School District and retired in 1989. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and a member of St. Francis Parish in Aviston. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at St. Francis Church in Aviston with Rev. Dan Friedman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Aviston. Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2010 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Hempen Funeral Home in Aviston. There will be a prayer service at 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or American Cancer Society and will be received at the funeral home.