Ben C. Holthaus, 89, of Seneca, KS, died Saturday, December 8, 2001, at Country View Estates care home in Seneca. He had been a resident there since November 2000.

He was born November 6, 1912, on the Holthaus homestead west of Seneca, the son of Frank H. and Josephine Rethman Holthaus. He grew up there and attended St. Mary’s School in St. Benedict. He worked on the family farm.

As a young man, Ben started a trucking business, Holthaus Trucking Co., hauling livestock to the St. Joseph stockyards.

He was married to Sally Enneking on May 17, 1937 at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly, Kansas. They lived in the St. Benedict Community north of Seneca. She died November 5, 1944.

On February 25, 1946, he married Kathleen “Kate” Fangman at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in Seneca until 1949 when they moved to a farm west of Seneca. They farmed and raised livestock besides operating the trucking business which had expanded with more drivers, for hauling to Omaha, Emporia, and other places in Kansas. His wife Kate died August 21, 1990. In February of 1991, he moved into Seneca where he continued to live until his health made nursing home care necessary.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus #1769, all in Seneca. Ben liked people and especially children. It was a well-known Seneca story that when he drove by he tossed bubblegum out his truck window to be enjoyed by youngsters and some not so young.

Survivors are six daughters, Jeanette Callaghan, Mary Haug, and Lana O’Connor, all of Seneca, Jacklyn Engelken and Jolene File both of Topeka, and Debra Erwin of Charlotte, NC; a brother, Cyril Holthaus of Seneca; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Besides his wives, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hilary Anne File on November 23, 1996; brothers Carl, Joseph, Cornelius, Lawrence, Adolph, and Gregg Holthaus; sisters, Josephine Holthaus, Mary Dick, Agnes Rottinghaus, and Clementine Bennett.

A prayer service will be held at 2 PM Sunday, with a rosary at 7 PM Sunday, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given for students attending the World Youth Day in Toronto, and sent in care of the family.