C. Benjamin Jones

February 25, 1940 - February 13, 2016 

C. Benjamin Jones was born in Atlanta, Georgia on February 25, 1940 to the proud parents of Carl and Lola Jones. Ben attended school in Atlanta. He was a member of the football time. Ben joined the U.S. Air Force in March 1957. He was stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, CA where he learned his life–time love of mechanicing.

On July 19, 1958 he married Phylis Neibaum of Turlock, CA. They moved back to Atlanta and worked at Lander Motors, the Chrysler Dodge Plymouth Dealership. They returned to California and worked at Dow Hammond Diesel, Dodge Dealership and City of Modesto, CA.

For many years he was a member of the Citizens Band Radio Club and had the handle of “Gentle Ben”. He liked to fish and did wood carpentry. He also enjoyed racing on the Nascar Circuit West and met many of the star drivers. His son, David raced in California which he enjoyed helping with the mechanics of his car.

Ben moved to Montana in 1994 and built a home in Victor. He was reunited with “The love of his life” in 1998 and married Rietta Cordle on September 26, 1998 and brought her to Montana to live.

Ben is survived by his wife Rietta of Plains; Brother Charles Franklin Jones of Charlestown, IN; son, David Franklin of Los Banos, CA; and daughter Debra Louise of Turlock, CA; Five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Rietta’s daughters, Audrey Marie Moore, Karen Spates, Melinda Matthews and Cindy Spates; 11 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild.

Memorials in Ben’s name may be made to the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Foundation, 10 Kruger Road, Plains, MT 59859.