Ben Lunis

Click Here To View Memorial Video Benjamin Charles Lunis, 83, a long-time resident of southeast Idaho, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at home surrounded by family, and he is now joyfully with his Lord and Savior. Ben was born the oldest of two sons on December 3, 1930, to immigrants from eastern Europe, Benjamin Charles Lunis and Marie Krolewski Lunis, in Walsenburg, Colorado, where he grew up and graduated from Huerfano County High School. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Most of his professional career he worked at the INL (Idaho National Laboratory), where he served as a project engineer and program manager. Ben married Elizabeth “Betty” Baker in 1955. They had two daughters, Sharon Elizabeth and Barbara Marie, born in Denver, CO and raised in Idaho Falls. They later divorced but they passed on to their girls a love for Jesus, fishing, camping, and reading. He was instrumental in the founding of the Idaho Falls chapter of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. He also served as a leader in the groups that sprung out of the Charismatic Renewal in the 1960s. In 1983 Ben married Mary B. Rice, a realtor in Idaho Falls. The next year they began building a cabin for weekend use. After retiring in 1991 they moved to the Greentimber area east of Ashton and had many happy years living full time in the “cabin”. They spent later winters in various spots in Arizona. Ben has recently had a rewarding time being part of “Communion with God Ministries.” He has been teaching others to hear God’s voice and to know when it is God speaking. This has been the most satisfying thing in his life. Ben is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Mary Lunis; two adoring daughters, Sharon Elizabeth Smith of Denver, CO and Barbie (Bobby) Dickinson of Crawford CO; three grandsons, Stephen Smith, Brian Smith, and Shawn Dickinson; four great grandchildren; seven step-children, Jo (Rudy) Finne, Gayle (Larry) Eaton, Maribee (Carey) Sovereign, Steve (Corie) Rice, Randy (Francine) Rice, Michael (Bonnie) Rice and Ginny (Roger) Kuhl; fourteen step-grandchildren, and 22 step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ron, his first wife, Betty Lunis, a stepson, Greg Rice, and a step-granddaughter, Stacey Heim. Memorial services will be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2014 at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, with Ron Derrick officiating. The family will visit with friends beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial services will be held

5 p.m. ,Sunday, May 4, 2014 Wood Funeral Home 273 North Ridge Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Notes: The family will visit with friends beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home.