Arden Ham

Arden Ham

July 25, 1928 - May 2, 2015

BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Arden Emmett Ham was born July 25, 1928, at the family farm in Dundy County, Nebraska, to Earl D. "Vic" Ham and Mayme (Bond) Ham. He went to meet our Lord and join his wife on Saturday, May 2, 2015, on their 67th wedding anniversary.

Arden was baptized in the Methodist Church in Benkelman as an infant and joined the Methodist Church when he was a teenager. He attended Country School and then graduated from Benkelman High School in 1946.

On May 2, 1948, he married Rosemary Joyce Howard at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman. After they were married, he joined the Zion Lutheran Church. To this union were born two sons, Eugene and Jay Dee.

Arden farmed for several years and then worked for the City of Benkelman as a lineman and was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department. Later he leased the service station from Stanley Ham for several years. When Pete Christensen retired, he bought part of his insurance agency and was an agent for 25 years. While selling insurance, he and Joyce opened a furniture store, that they operated for 20 years. For years he belonged to Country Music Benkelman and was the MC for them. He announced races, parades and events for the community.

Arden was a charter member of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was on the Lutheran Church Council for eight years and also spent many hours working on the new Lutheran Parish Hall.

Arden was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce Ham; granddaughter, Helen Mayme Ham; brothers, Vaughn and Dale; infant sister, Audra; sisters, Bernice Russell and Beulah Jean Edwards; and grandson, Cameron Brecka.

Arden leaves behind sons, Eugene Ham and wife, Candy of Mok Po, South Korea and Jay Dee Ham and wife, Karen of Garden City, Kansas; brother, Norlin Ham and wife, Myrna of Orland, Florida; grandchildren, Casey Sova, Seth Shaefer, Amber Ham and Quade Ham; and nine great-grandchildren

Funeral services were Tuesday morning, May 5, 2015, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman with Pastor Doug Hjelmstad officiating. Interment followed at Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, Nebraska.

Visitation was Monday, May 4, 2015, at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman.

A memorial has been established to the Zion Lutheran Church of Benkelman's Youth Group.

Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Benkelman Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements