Benjamin Dean "Ben" Butz, Sr., age 61 of Champlin, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids surrounded by his loving wife and sons.

Ben was born on December 20, 1958 at Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis, MN to Richard Joseph and Margaret Kitto Butz.  His family moved to San Diego, CA in 1964 where he attended Mar Vista Junior High and Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, CA.  He was an incredible brother to his siblings Rick, Donna and Barbara.  Always exceedingly bright, he excelled in high school and graduated early in 1975.  He then attended Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA where he graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies.

After college, Ben moved to Minneapolis, MN and while working for Prudential, he met Myla Inez Sumstad.  They fell in love and were married in 1982.  Ben and Myla shared three sons, Chris, Ben Jr. and Mike.  They made their way around the country as the family moved for Ben's work from Minneapolis to San Diego, to New Jersey and back to Minnesota where they settled the home in Champlin where they've lived since 1990.

In his professional life, Ben was a natural leader.  To start his career, he spent 16 years at Prudential Insurance in various IT and Health Claims positions, ending as an Associate Manager in IT.  He then started a 12-year stint as a Delivery Project Manager for IBM where he spearheaded over two hundred development and maintenance projects and brought in over $10M in revenue annually.  Over his time at IBM, he oversaw and directed 230 personnel in the US and India.  Many of his employees saw him as a kind and generous mentor, helping them advance in their own careers.  While there he proudly became a certified Project Management Professional.  Most recently, he served as a Senior Operations Manager, Senior Project Manager and People Manager for ReedGroup for over eight years, where he continued his commitment to mentoring his staff.

In his personal life, he had numerous hobbies including bowling, carpentry, gardening, home renovating, camping, canning, fishing, hunting, beading, cooking and pipestone carving.  If there was something that looked interesting to him, Ben would figure out how to do it and excel at it. Many of his family's yards are adorned with Adirondack chairs, bench swings and porches and have their cupboards filled with jams and jellies from Ben.  He was an engaged Little League coach and worked with his sons' Boy Scouts of America groups.  He took his family on multiple adventures in campers, RVs and house boats.

Ben's whole family relied on him for professional advice, recipes, car repair tips and ways to comfort and soothe crying babies.  He was generous of spirit and beloved by everyone who was lucky enough to cross paths with him.  His favorite role was that of a Grandpa, which he fulfilled flawlessly for his grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Ben is survived by his wife, Myla; his sons, Chris Cain of Champlin, MN, Benjamin Dean (Katie) Butz, Jr. of Auburn, WA, and Michael John Butz of Big Lake, MN; his grandkids, Zoey Boynton of Becker, MN and Benjamin (III), Ava, Trevor, Charles and Kelsey Butz of Auburn, WA; his father, Richard Joseph Butz, Sr. of Bemidji, MN; his sisters Donna (Tony) Wilks of Woodbridge, VA and Barbara Jane Kitto of Bemidji, MN; and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Kitto Butz, and his brother, Richard Joseph Butz, Jr.

A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for Friday, September 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Andrews Park in Champlin, MN.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for the Minneapolis American Indian Center or the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center.

Arrangements entrusted to Thurston-Lindberg Funeral Home of Anoka (763) 421-0220