Ben Goertz
Ben Goertz was born Jan. 31, 1928, at Hillsboro, the youngest of five children born to Henry and Selma (Janz) Goertz.
He grew up in Durham, attended elementary school and graduated from Durham High School in 1945.
As a child, he worked in the family business, a farm implement and hardware store. He was 16 when he sold his first piece of equipment.
While attending high school, Ben played basketball and continued to work for his father.
In February 1946, after high school, Ben joined the U.S. Navy, as a seaman second class. He was assigned to a supply ship, supplying goods to ports as far away as China. His Naval service ended in 1948, and he returned home to rejoin the family business.
Not long after returning home from the Navy, Ben met Anna Mae Senner. The couple were married in June 1949. They lived in Durham where their three children, Cindy, Susan, and Shelley, were born.
Anna Mae joined the business as bookkeeper and worked in the parts inventory department.
Along with a partner, Carroll Rhodes, Ben purchased the family business from his father in 1954, forming what is now G&R Implement.
As the new owner, Ben's first trade was an Oliver tractor for seven jersey heifers.
In 1969, Ben bought out his partner and become sole owner. He turned the business into an award-winning Oliver dealership, setting sales records and was among the top 10 dealerships in the United States for years.
Ben lived in Durham and worked to keep the community he loved a good place to live. He served 40 years on the town council and served as mayor for 25 of those years.
He was a charter member of the Durham Lions Club. He was an active member, cooking up pancakes and sausage for the annual Lions Club pancake day.
He also served as a Durham Park trustee and as a board member of the Central National Bank. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Durham serving as a trustee.
As active as he was in the community, he loved to spend time with his six grandchildren. He enjoyed family gatherings, going to family barbecues, fishing at the pond with a friend, and watching KU basketball games.
His biggest hobby was his collection of classic Oliver tractors and classic Oliver toys.
Ben died Feb. 19, 2004, at Wichita.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Elsie Funk and Bernice Albrecht; and brothers, Willard and Dan.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Mae; his three children, Cindy and her husband Steve Wedel of Abilene, Susan and her husband of Joe Endres of Emporia, and Shelley and her husband Myron Klassen of Hesston; and six grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the First Baptist Church of Durham and the Durham Lions Club.
