pRAYMONDVILLE- Benedikt “Ben” A. Thrana Sr., 83, of State Route 310, Raymondville, passed away Saturday evening, April 16, 2016, in Burlington Vermont, at the University of Vermont Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family./ppBen was born January 7, 1933 in Norway, to the late Peder and Gerda (Olsen) Thrana./ppAt 14 years old, Ben joined the Norwegian Merchant Marines, training on the Christian Radich. After training, he worked on cargo ships traveling the world. He would dock in Brooklyn, NY, where he met his future loving wife of 63 years, Jane Lockhart. They married on February 16, 1953 in North Carolina./ppBen joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany during his service under General Patton, Hell on Wheels Tank Unit. He finished his service as a Corporal, and he became a U.S. citizen when stationed in Germany./ppBen was a business owner in commercial refrigeration and air conditioning for 30 years in NY City. He moved to Raymondville with his family in 1975 to go into farming. During these years, he owned and operated a grocery/gas business and restaurant in Raymondville. He also owned a commercial restaurant supply business until his retirement in 1998./ppBen was active in sports throughout his life. He was a speed skater, downhill skier, ski jumper and cross country skier and was captain of the Army ski team when he served. He also was a soccer player./ppBen is survived by his loving wife, Jane; and his two daughters, Karin and George Malone of Norfolk; and Helen and Steve LaPage of Raymondville; his three sons, Benedikt Thrana Jr., and his wife Boni, Erik Thrana, and Shawn Thrana, all of Raymondville; his nine grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and one great great granddaughter, and many relatives in Norway./ppBen was predeceased by a great grandson, Nathan Thrana Jr., on November 4, 2015/ppBen was a loving husband and father and will be dearly missed. The most important thing in his life was his family./ppFriends may call at the Donaldson Funeral Home Friday 2-4 and 6-8PM. A graveside service with full military honors, will be held Saturday at 10:00 AM at Pine Grove Cemetery #2, Cook Street, with Rev. Heather Steirhiem officiating./ppDonations may be made in Ben’s memory to a local Veterans organization of one’s choice./ppMemories and condolences may be shared online at www.donaldsonfh.com./p
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