Ben Charles Pezdark, 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at St. James Healthcare in Butte, on January 7, 2024. A lifelong Butte resident, Ben was born and proudly raised in the Meaderville and McQueen neighborhoods.

A gifted machinist and carpenter, Ben graduated from Butte High School in 1952. He left his mark there, building stages and sets for the school's band/orchestra and drama club, and maintaining their equipment, including traveling to Pasadena as the equipment manager for the band in the Rose Bowl Parade.

Starting work at age 14, Ben went to work with his uncle Gus at Gus's Tamales as a delivery boy who opened the shop in the mornings, later adding on additional work as a delivery boy for Meaderville Merc and later Ossello's Gas and Service Station.

After high school, Ben went to work at Stauffer Chemical. He only worked there for a short time and was injured with a chemical burn. It was during his recovery from an injury that fate steered him towards a first date with Millie, marking the beginning of a lifelong romance.

On June 24, 1961, Ben married Millie Rosa at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They shared an inseparable bond of friendship and love until Millie's passing, just before their 44th anniversary.

His career path led him to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, starting work at the Machine Shop. He worked his way up to become Superintendent of Maintenance for many years before Arco's closure in 1983.

After that, he went to work as the superintendent of the maintenance garages for Exxon at one of the largest coal mines in the world. It was in Columbia, South America. He returned home and worked for his son Ben at Pezdark Trucking, then finished his working career as an engineer for Butte School District No. 1, retiring in 1994. His long career was a testament to his relentless work ethic and dedication.

As a proud and devoted volunteer with the Meaderville Volunteer Fire Department, Ben was involved in the design and construction of numerous Christmas displays and parade floats. During the 1950s, he was proud of being the driver of many of the award-winning floats in Butte's annual Independence Day Parade, and his sisters rode on those floats as characters that matched the theme. He was one of the few remaining members of the Meaderville Fire Department.

An avid cook, Ben enjoyed participating in gourmet clubs and was always proud to prepare Sunday dinners for his family and extended relatives. His love for cooking, entertaining, and hosting gatherings was well-known among his friends and family.

Ben's likable and pleasant demeanor won him friends and admirers everywhere he went, and he was admired for his storytelling and the ease with which he made others feel important. Known throughout Butte for his kindness and problem-solving skills, Ben was a reliable, trustworthy jack of all trades from a young age. Everyone loved and relied on Ben.

He most treasured times at his cabin on Lucky Lane at Georgetown Lake, purchased in the early 1970s. The Pezdark Family BBQ, an annual tradition for over 30 years, draws 200-300 people annually. Ben relished good meals, especially shared with friends over a cold beer or a glass of wine.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife Millie, parents Charles and Margaret Scalorone Pezdark, siblings Mary and Gerald Comba, Margie and Gary Ross, and parents-in-law Mitchell and Margaret Rosa, and sisters and brothers-in-law, Margie and Jim Freebourn, and Frank and Ann Rosa, as well as grandson John Mitchell, and other close relatives.

Surviving Ben are his children Charlie, Ben, and Renee Pezdark, Therese McDonald, and Greg (Elaine) Pezdark, along with grandchildren Nick and Dusty Mikalatos, Jason and Kristin Pascavage, J.P. (Madison) McDonald, Tamara and Mitchell Bachman, Matt (Brittney) McDonald, Ethan (Sydnie), and Aidan Pezdark, and great-grandchildren Colton, Connor, Ella, Bryce, Jemma, Trenton, Brady, Cael, Bear, River, and Baby Bachman, expected in February.

He also leaves behind in-laws Dan and Gay Rosa and Jim and Cathy Rosa, as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews from the Freebourn, Comba, Kramarich, and Rosa families. He also leaves many cousins and relatives including the Horgan, Lappin, Boyle, Nolan, Spritzer, Hogan, Kelley, and Anzik families.  He will be missed by close family friends Jimmy Summers, Ray Pucinelli, and Joe Anderson, as well as cousins-in-law Rick and Julie Rosa and family. Ben had many friends, coworkers, and family he loved dearly, that are too numerous to mention.

Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Copper Ridge Health and Rehab and Saint James Healthcare for their exceptional care and kindness.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on March 23, 2024 at 11:00 am in St. Patrick's Catholic Church.