Ben J. Roark

Benjamin James Roark was born to Tina (Harshbarger) and Daniel Roark on September 3, 1989 in Shelby, Montana.  Twenty-seven years to the day, on September 3, 2016, Ben made the choice to leave this world.  Upon his passing Ben’s family lost a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend.  In addition to the loss of an all too rare dependable mechanic, the world lost a gentle and kind hearted soul who loved nothing more than to make those around him laugh.

Shortly after his arrival, Ben made the quick trip up the road to Oilmont to join his brother and sister on the Roark family farm.  Growing up Ben enjoyed spending time with family, camping out on the farm, trips to the reservoir, and helping out with the family business in whatever way he could.  It was on the farm where Ben felt most at home and where he learned how to grow wheat/barley, raise sheep/pigs, and fix just about any sort of machine he could get his hands on.  Ben’s curious and inventive nature would serve him well in life, even if it meant that some of his mom’s mixers got repurposed as grain grinders.

Ben attended Sunburst schools from elementary through high school.  His favorite subjects were science and anything to do with computers.  An accomplished student, Ben qualified in both his junior and senior years for the International Science Fair.  This earned him trips to Indianapolis and Albuquerque respectively to represent the Refiners.  Ben also played football for all four years of high school, but it is his sense of humor and tendency to be a class clown which might be best remembered by his classmates.

After high school, Ben moved in with his sister Abby to attend Montana State University – Great Falls.  He studied computer science there for two years before the call of the north-country proved to be too much and he moved back home to Oilmont.  Once home, Ben started work for Columbia Grain in addition to assisting his parents on the family farm.  In his three years with Columbia Grain, Ben worked his way up from sweeper to assistant manager.

Eventually Ben decided that it was time to finish his education so he joined his older brother Jake and enrolled at Montana State Northern.  He always spoke highly of his times in Havre and the numerous close friends and great memories he made there.  Ben made the Dean’s List both years he was there and graduated in December of 2013 with degrees in Diesel Technology and Agricultural Mechanic Technology.

After earning his degrees, Ben returned to Oilmont and he started work at Front Line Ag in Cut Bank where he was known as a very skilled and reliable mechanic.  Ben made his home at the old Scotty Place until buying a house in Kevin last year.  His plans for the future included restoring his beloved 1964 F-100 pick-up and raising Squirrel, his new chiweenie puppy.

Ben was a man of many talents and had many interests.  He enjoyed playing darts, video games, and going out varmit/predator hunting with friends.  He could quote just about any episode of Family Guy or South Park, and nobody appreciated a well-timed movie reference, novelty t-shirt, or off-colored joke more than Ben did.  In his first tournament, Ben won an entry into the World Series of Beer Pong and represented Montana in Las Vegas.  Lucky for us amateurs, he always welcomed a game from any would be challengers.

Ben was always up for a good road trip.  From Ferdig to Cleveland (MT) Ben truly enjoyed exploring the roads less traveled.  A big Green Bay Packer fan, Ben enjoyed his trips in the old family van to visit his family in Wisconsin.  Some of his favorite memories while out there include getting to walk on Lambeau Field and kidnapping a life size cut-out of Brett Farve to accompany the family on their way back to Montana.  He also really enjoyed music and was never shy about sharing his signing voice with anyone who would listen.

Ben enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family and friends.  He was a terrific uncle to his niece and nephews, and was affectionately known as a big teddy bear.  He was always the first to offer to help a friend in need or to lend a friendly ear.  Benjamin, Ben, Bennie Roark was an amazing character who left us far too early and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Ben is survived by his parents Dan and Tina Roark of Oilmont; grandmothers Marilyn Harschbarger of Shelby and Gladys Roark of Oilmont; Sister Abby (Joe) nephew Cormac Sherwood of Cut Bank; Brother Jake (Caitlin) niece Hana and nephews Henry and Harvey Roark of Oilmont; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by grandfathers Robert Harschbarger and Louis Roark, and uncle Robert Douglas Harschbarger.

Services are planned for Saturday, September 10, at 2 p.m. at Sunburst Lutheran.  A reception at the Roark family farm will follow. Cremation has already taken place and Ben will be laid to rest on the family farm at a later date.

The family would like to thank everyone for their kind words, and numerous offers to help during this difficult time.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org , or a like organization dedicated to the prevention of suicide.

A memorial fund can be reached at afsp.donordrive.com/campaign/Benroark.