Benjamin Bernard Bilski, age 97, a longtime resident of Sedro-Woolley, passed away January 16, 2014.  He was born Jan. 2, 1917, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Agatha (Wielgosz) Bilski.

He moved to Lyman with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and then served three years in the U. S. Army Air Corps, during WWII.  Ben and Frances Lennox were married on February 10, 1943, in Everett, Washington.  After the war, he returned to work at Northern State Hospital, until retiring when it closed in 1973.  He then followed his children, vacationing around the U. S., traveling extensively.  He was a member of the American Legion and the AFL-CIO, and enjoyed gardening.

Ben is survived by his children, Karen and her husband, Robert Huggins, of Belton, TX, and B. Lee and his wife, Roxanne Bilski, of LaConner, WA; two sisters, Marie Siemon, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Ceil Toloczko, of Plains, PA; grandchildren, Denise Dinscore, of Little River Academy, TX, McKenna Knight, of Seattle, WA, Donna Fritsche, of Temple, TX, Deborah McLeod, of Burlington, WA and Jennifer Larson, of Mount Vernon, WA; great grandchildren, Stoney Dinscore, Tyler McLeod, Swen Larson, Benjamin Dinscore, Cooper McLeod, Renee Larson, Conner Knight and Journey Fritsche.

He was preceded in death by his wife Frances in 1993, four brothers and two sisters.

A graveside service will be held with military honors at 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 23, 2014, at Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley, with Father Martin Bourke officiating.  Memorial contributions may be made to Puget Sound Oncology or Hospice of the Northwest.