Benedict Joseph Dreiling, 93, of Hill City, Kansas, died at his home surrounded by his family in Hill City. He was born May 29, 1932, in Rural St. Peter, Kansas to Charles and Beatrice (Riedel) Dreiling. He was the sixth out of nine children. Growing up on the family farm with his siblings was a time filled with treasured memories. To add to the immediate family were cousins who lived on nearby farms. One can only imagine the mischief they could invent with all those kids. Not to mention any pranks, but if you knew them, you always remembered the grease guns!
As the kids got older, camping and lake trips were weekend getaways. For these adventures they always brought friends along. Ben was always good to stop by his mom’s house to check on her. On these stops he was always treated to his favorite meal of meatballs and red beer.
Ben met Norma Clark in the middle of a street in Hill City. She was the love of his life for 53 years. They were married October 13, 1956 in St. Peter. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Mindy, Sheryl, Kelly, and Mark.
Ben was an oil field contract pumper; however, many remember him as a tavern owner. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart Mary Church as well as 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Ben was a fireman for Hill City when the family home was destroyed by fire. They lost everything, but all the family was safe. Ben stayed with the department and served 25 years as the Fire Chief.
Ben enjoyed life and his free time. He preferred driving the back roads in Graham County, woodworking, especially building birdhouses and toys. Yard work was a project he truly enjoyed and made all the better when he won “Yard of the Month”. Friends were very important to the Dreilings. There were evenings spent with their good friends Johnny and Sara Billinger. Dancing to polka music, along with lots of laughter filled those evenings. As the years moved on, babysitting grandkids became a welcome chore. Pheasant season was his favorite time of the year. The first weekend being the best. Every year Ben and his brother Elmer laughed about shooting a neighbor’s house and cow with the infamous grease guns. Their dad made sure they never forgot!
Left to mourn his passing are his daughters Mindy and husband Jon Schumacher of McPherson, Sheryl and husband Mark Fabricius of Hill City; his sons: Kelly and Michelle Dreiling of Hill City, Mark Dreiling of Hill City; one brother, Charles (Chuck) Dreiling of Buffalo Grove, Illinois; 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; extended family relatives, and many friends. Preceding Ben in death were: his parents; his loving wife Norma; his brothers: Len Dreiling, Elmer Dreiling, Fritz Dreiling; his sisters: Helen Weidner, Armella Nordstrom, Ellie Horcher, Kathryn Raupp.