IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Benjamin Paul
Larson
May 9, 1981 – April 10, 2015
Obituary
Benjamin Paul Larson, age 33, of Rapid City, SD, passed away on April 10, 2015, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City.
Benjamin was born at Reynolds Army Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, on May 9, 1981. He was Army from day one; a battery of howitzers crossing the road interrupted his ride home from the hospital.
Ben grew up in Aberdeen, SD, graduating from Roncalli High School with honors in 1999. During those years in Aberdeen, Ben developed a keen interest in hunting, fishing and anything firearms related. He gained a reputation as the "go to guy" when anyone had a question about guns. Football, track and school plays were a few of the extracurricular activities Ben enjoyed. When he was in his Plebe year at West Point he commented that the physical training wasn't too bad when compared to Mr. Dosch's football conditioning.
He was the fellow who everyone wanted to be around. Extremely intelligent, Ben could talk with anyone on any subject and he loved it. He had friends around the world who will miss him dearly.Scouting became an important part of his life and as a member of Troop 10; he attended several camps including Philmont and Boundary Waters High Adventure Camps. Ben attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
In 1999, Ben earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He graduated with a degree in systems engineering and law and a commission as a second lieutenant. While on active duty he served with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg and had posts in Korea and Fort Jackson, SC. At the end of his five year commitment he left active duty to work as a Sr. Contracts Specialist with BAE in Minneapolis. While there he continued his military career with the Minnesota Army National Guard and made the conversion from air defense artillery to cavalry. He deployed to Iraq as a Captain with the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, MNARNG.
Ben lost several close friends to Southwest Asia and also to the demons that followed them home. He himself suffered from PTSD, severe survivor's guilt and depression. Those maladies finally led to his death at Rapid City Regional Hospital on April 10, 2015.
Benjamin is survived by his parents, Paul & Karen Larson, Custer, SD; sister, Meg (Steve) Kugler, New Raymer, CO; brother, Joseph (Laina) Larson, Rapid City, SD; grandmother, Dorothy Wehrkamp, Sioux Falls, SD; niece, Hannah Kugler and nephew, Case Kugler. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Oscar and Myrtle Larson and his maternal grandfather Robert Wehrkamp.
Committal services will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2015, at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD.
The family prefers memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Operation Black Hills Cabin, P.O. Box 855, Custer, SD 57730. Both charities accept on line donations.
Benjamin was born at Reynolds Army Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, on May 9, 1981. He was Army from day one; a battery of howitzers crossing the road interrupted his ride home from the hospital.
Ben grew up in Aberdeen, SD, graduating from Roncalli High School with honors in 1999. During those years in Aberdeen, Ben developed a keen interest in hunting, fishing and anything firearms related. He gained a reputation as the "go to guy" when anyone had a question about guns. Football, track and school plays were a few of the extracurricular activities Ben enjoyed. When he was in his Plebe year at West Point he commented that the physical training wasn't too bad when compared to Mr. Dosch's football conditioning.
He was the fellow who everyone wanted to be around. Extremely intelligent, Ben could talk with anyone on any subject and he loved it. He had friends around the world who will miss him dearly.Scouting became an important part of his life and as a member of Troop 10; he attended several camps including Philmont and Boundary Waters High Adventure Camps. Ben attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
In 1999, Ben earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He graduated with a degree in systems engineering and law and a commission as a second lieutenant. While on active duty he served with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg and had posts in Korea and Fort Jackson, SC. At the end of his five year commitment he left active duty to work as a Sr. Contracts Specialist with BAE in Minneapolis. While there he continued his military career with the Minnesota Army National Guard and made the conversion from air defense artillery to cavalry. He deployed to Iraq as a Captain with the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, MNARNG.
Ben lost several close friends to Southwest Asia and also to the demons that followed them home. He himself suffered from PTSD, severe survivor's guilt and depression. Those maladies finally led to his death at Rapid City Regional Hospital on April 10, 2015.
Benjamin is survived by his parents, Paul & Karen Larson, Custer, SD; sister, Meg (Steve) Kugler, New Raymer, CO; brother, Joseph (Laina) Larson, Rapid City, SD; grandmother, Dorothy Wehrkamp, Sioux Falls, SD; niece, Hannah Kugler and nephew, Case Kugler. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Oscar and Myrtle Larson and his maternal grandfather Robert Wehrkamp.
Committal services will be held 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2015, at the Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD.
The family prefers memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Operation Black Hills Cabin, P.O. Box 855, Custer, SD 57730. Both charities accept on line donations.
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