Ben K. Sager of Spearfish died Saturday, August 29, 2015, at Spearfish Regional Hospital after a very brief illness. He was born in Spearfish on July 25, 1937, to Benjamin Eli and Ruby Kimmel Sager. They lived at that time south of Spearfish near Tinton and Cement Ridge on their ranch. In 1943 he began first grade at the Tinton School when the family purchased another ranch and moved to Sundance, WY. During the terrible winter of 1949, they stayed at the ranch near Tinton while his father was recuperating from a bad accident, and Ben again attended the Tinton School. He graduated from Sundance High School in 1955 and ranked first in his class. After high school Ben enrolled at then Black Hills Teachers College and graduated in 1963 with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in political and social science. He was honored by being selected for membership in the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1962. At the time he was in college he worked for the Miller and Sons Sawmill northwest of Spearfish as well as for the Johnson Mobil service station.

Following his graduation from Black Hills, Ben worked for over 38 years as a case worker, program administrator and quality control specialist with the South Dakota Department of Social Services, retiring in 2001. He worked in the Brule, Pennington, Meade, Lawrence, and Butte counties in various capacities with Social Services. A very caring and compassionate person, he dedicated his life to helping others. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association.

On June 2, 1963, he married Margaret Ann Crary at St. John's Episcopal Church in Deadwood, and the two of them celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2013. Two children were born to their marriage, Kristin Ann Sager Lyons and Gerald "Jerry" Benjamin Sager.

Ben was an avid historian and especially appreciated the area in which he grew up, and could tell many interesting tales about the Black Hills. He also enjoyed learning about his family genealogy and compiled a record of the Sager family dating back into the 1600s, including ancestors on the Mayflower. He enjoyed learning about his ancestors and traveled around the eastern United States visiting the graves of many of them. In addition to searching for family graves, he spent several years visiting the graves of veterans who had served in the Civil War with his great-grand father.

Always a horse lover and owner, he especially enjoyed horseback riding through his beautiful Black Hills. He delighted in sharing his knowledge of the area and guiding friends through the Cement Ridge-Tinton area.
Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his wife's parents Gerald and Olive Crary of Deadwood, many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Ben is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margaret Ann, his daughter Kristin Lyons of Cheyenne, his son Gerald "Jerry" Benjamin Sager and Ashton of Burleson, Texas, and many cousins. In addition, his horses Molly and Tara, kitties, Kelley Kat and Larry, and new puppy, Sheba, will miss him immensely.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Western Hills Humane Society of Spearfish; the Shriners Hospitals for Children/Naja Temple Travel Fund; or a charity of the donor's choice.

Visitation will be from 5:00pm-7:00pm Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish, with burial to follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Following the burial members of Trinity Guild of the Episcopal Church will serve a lunch at All Angels Parish Hall located at the corner of 5th Street and Michigan in Spearfish.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com