In Memory

Ben Collins

Ben Collins

Burt Benjamin (Ben, Benny) Collins

Burt Benjamin Collins was born February 25, 1948.  He was the fifth child born to Ben and Rosemary Collins.  He attended Billings Public Schools through his sophomore year when the family moved to California.  Ben graduated from Victorville High School. 

Ben served in the U. S. Army.  He had several professions in his lifetime.  Ben loved hunting.  He passed away on November 6, 2018, in Apple Valley, California, due to complications from cancer. 

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Maggie; 2 daughters, Mara and Sara; and his brother John of Billings.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his 3 sisters. 

Ben was honored with a flag ceremony courtesy of the VA. 



 
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10/26/20 08:08 PM #1    

Gary Daniel

Benny and I were in the same 1st-grade class at McKinley.  We each had ancestrial roots in the Custer area, we discovered early, homesteads and ranches or in town at the general store.  We became life-long friends.  Benny's mother was a Keefe girl, a multi-state auto parts chain (Keefe Auto Supply) was headed by her dad.  I remember the huge pink '57 Oldsmobile that Ben's dad bought for Mrs. Collins (Rosemary).  Big family business.  Years later, after the California graduation, Ben came back to EMC, spent time in Alaska where some family had migrated.  Then a bunch of us decided to join the Army out of Billings.  Ben ended his 2 years in Germany as a Tank Commander, Sergeant.  Then back to Alaska, Florida, Romania (for 10 years, met Maggie, had hoped to open a Holiday Inn there), back to Atlanta, then California, and a few sporting trips back to Montana.  His main work for many years was in real estate appraisal, where he enjoyed his down-to-earth friendships with bankers and fellow real estate folks.


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