Benjamin Merculief Jr.

Aug 19, 1931 -

Sep 30, 2020

Benjamin passed away on Sept. 30, 2020, in Rapid City, S.D. Benjamin was born on St. George Island, Alaska, on Aug. 19, 1931, to Benjamin and Anna (Prokopiof) Merculief . Visitation and funeral service was at the St. John Orthodox Church in Rapid City at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5, 2020. Burial service with Military honors was at the Black Hills National Cemetery.

He attended elementary school at St. George Island. He also received his high school diploma.

He was evacuated from St. George Island, when he was 10 years old, along with his family to Funter Bay during World War II in June 1942. Benjamin enlisted in the army in the early 1950s at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

He was a dedicated Russian Orthodox member on St. George and in Anchorage and Rapid City. He was honored with Bishop Award for his service to the church. He retired with 40 years from the government in 1986. He enjoyed halibut fishing, picking crowberries and helping in the garden, and was a handyman around the house. He enjoyed going for drives around Rapid City with the Woodles, especially with Cal, where he learned about South Dakota. Ben and Feona enjoyed traveling to Seattle, Wash.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; and areas in South Dakota.

Family and friends recalled Benjamin as having a quiet demeanor, kind and loving, and he had a sense of humor up to the end.

Benjamin is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Shirley Merculief; daughter, Lori Merculief; daughters and sons-in-law, Anita and Dean Vogt, Bernice and Cal Woodle, Dolores and Charlie Davis; and son, Jim Merculief. He had five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Feona; his parents, Benjamin Merculief Sr. and Anna; and brothers, James and Agafangel.