BEN RULE

Longtime Alaskan Ben Rule, 70, died peacefully at home on July 25, 2004, surrounded by his wife, children and brother.

A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. today, at the Teamsters Local 959 Building, 520 W. 34th Ave., in Anchorage.

Mr. Rule was born to Vyrus and Vivian Rule on Oct. 5, 1933, in Phillipsburg, Kan. His family moved to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 1938, where he attended Steamboat Springs High School, graduating in 1951. He married Rieta Webber on June 6, 1954.

Mr. Rule moved his family to Alaska in 1957, making their first home in Sutton. In 1961 they moved to Soldotna and in 1966 they moved to their current home in Anchorage.

He worked as a Teamster line driver, accomplishing more than 30 years of accident-free driving. He was a devoted and respected member of Teamster Local 959, and remained an active union supporter throughout his life.

After his retirement in 1991, Mr. Rule stayed busy as a diesel mechanic and continued to help his wife with selling Horizon Lubricant products.

His family said, "Ben loved fishing, motor-homing, boating in Homer, playing guitar, writing songs and poetry, and most of all, good times with family and friends. He was a generous man that lived every day to its fullest. His guidance, good humor and storytelling will be missed. His bravery during his short battle with cancer was inspirational."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vyrus and Vivian Rule, and his brothers, Verle Rule and Raymond Rule.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rieta; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Leslie Rule; daughters and sons-in-law, Benita and Brian Hamilton, Karen and John Hill, Barbara (Gussie) and Mike Inman; grandchildren, Heather Russell, Martin Hood, Jeanette Borghols, Korynn Joyner, Joe Joyner, Brenda Joyner, Cody Inman, Jake Inman and Stephanie Rule; three great-grandchildren, Kain Joyner, Caleb Borghols, and Kole Russell; brother, Jimmie Rule of Hotchkiss, Colo., and an extended family of dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice of Anchorage at 500 W. International Airport Road, Suite C, Anchorage, AK 99518.