Bennet Kemp

Bennet James (Ben) Kemp left his earthly home the morning of August 14, 2019 at the age of 83.  He left this world with the quiet dignity with which he lived his life.   He is already missed.

A celebration of Ben’s life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, August 23^rd at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 1470 S Washington Street, Bismarck, followed by lunch. 

Burial will be at 2pm at the North Dakota State Veterans Cemetery, 1825 46^th St, Mandan.

Family will greet visitors from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 22 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will be held at 7pm.

Ben was born to James and Violet (Schneider) Kemp on February 1^st, 1936 in Arthur, North Dakota.  He was raised and attended school in Arthur.  He joined the North Dakota Army National Guard on January 18^th, 1954 while still in high school.  After graduating, Ben entered the active army for two years and was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he served as a tank commander and an operations sergeant. 

Upon his return from active duty, Ben joined the Army National Guard on a full-time basis and was initially stationed at Fargo, ND as an Administrative Supply Technician (AST).

Ben married Lorraine Swenson in Moorhead, Minnesota on July 29, 1961.  At the time of his passing, they had just celebrated their 58^th wedding anniversary.

Ben and family transferred to Minot, North Dakota in 1968, where he continued his guard career as a property book officer.  In 1980, the family moved to Bismarck, ND, where Ben worked as an auditor and later as a contracting officer. 

Ben retired from the North Dakota National Guard on January 31^st, 1996 as a CW4 with over 42 years of military service, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit for “exceptional performance of service to the United States”. 

During his “retirement” years, Ben kept busy by:

• Working for the guard an additional 3 ½ years in the contracting field
• Working for the State of North Dakota Emergency Services (FEMA) for several years
• Doing volunteer work with the Adjutant General’s Retiree’s Advisor Board
• Volunteering for the Bismarck ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) committee
• Mowing grass at the ND Veteran’s Cemetery, with a close-knit group of devoted, special friends
• Washing dishes at the VFW and AMVETS for the 40&8 organization’s spaghetti dinners held in support of nurses training
• Coffee meetings with his buddies at Target, and lunches with many dear old friends

Ben was a member of many organizations:

• Secretary / treasurer for the 164^th Infantry Association (over 20 years)
• Life member (50+ years) and past commander of the American Legion, post NR1, Bismarck
• Life member of the AMVETS Post #9, Bismarck
• Life member of the 40 & 8 Voiture Locale # 291 (where he was Grand Chef de Gare for ND)
• Life member of the ND Officers Association, the ND Enlisted Association and the Military Officers Association of America
• Life member of the Bismarck / Mandan Elks, Lodge 1199
• Missouri Slope Model Aero Club, Bismarck

Ben and Lorraine were also members of House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Bismarck.

And in his “spare” time, Ben enjoyed building models, fishing, watching old westerns and detective shows and collecting everything from model cars to replicas of North American wildlife.

He did NOT enjoy housework and yard work, but was very proud of the beautiful home he and Lorraine kept in south Bismarck.

And he SAID he didn’t like traveling, but somehow managed to see most US states, at least ten countries in Europe and places as far from Bismarck as Australia and New Zealand.

And, more than anything else, Ben enjoyed time with his family, especially his five grand-children.  He was at his happiest when everyone was at home and the house bustling, especially at Christmas.

Ben is survived by his wife of over 58 years, Lorraine Kemp of Bismarck, ND; his two sons Jerry (Lynell) of Bloomington, MN and James (Twila) of Bismarck, ND, and grandchildren Nick Kemp and Nate Kemp of St. Paul, MN and Norah, Olivia and Beti Kemp of Bismarck, ND.  Ben is also survived by one sister, Marlene Boeddeker of Hillsboro, ND and one brother Kenneth (Karen) of Oakdale, MN and a great many cousins, brothers and sisters in law and nephews and nieces. 

He was preceded in death by his parents.