Benjamin F. Somers, 72, 2312 Babcock St., Whiting, died Wednesday, June 30, 1999, at his home.
Services were held Saturday, July 2 at St. Stephen Catholic Church. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
The Shuda Funeral Chapel assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name for Hospice of Portage County.
Mr. Somers was born May 27, 1927, in Stevens Point, son of the late Felix and Mary (Zakrzewski) Somers. He attended local schools and graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School.
He entered the U.S. Navy on Oct. 13, 1944, in Milwaukee. He was a motor machinist mate 3rd class and served on the USS L.C.S.
Mr. Somers received the World War II Victory Medal, the Atlantic-Pacific Area Medal and the American Area Medal. He was honorably discharged on July 25, 1946, in Great Lakes, Ill.
He was married to Joyce Lasky on Oct. 17, 1953, at St. Stephen Catholic Church. She preceded him in death on Jan. 5, 1972. He was married to Mary (Walker) Jester on June 30, 1973, in Stevens Point. She survives.
Mr. Somers retired from the Wisconsin River Division of Consolidated Papers in 1989 after 34 years of service.
He was a member of the local Elks Club.
Besides his wife, Mary, survivors include one daughter, Susan (Jon Sanden) Somers, The Landings, Texas; one son, Benjamin Somers Jr., Stevens Point; one stepson, Christopher (Denise) Jester, Miami, Fla.; one stepdaughter, Cynthia (Gerald) Boechler, Libertyville, Ill; six grandchildren; two sisters, Genevieve Hruby, Itasca, Ill., and Isabel Keene, Stevens Point; and two brothers, Albert (Eleanor) Somers and Phillip Somers, both of Stevens Point.
Besides his first wife, three brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
