Benjamin Yantis

Benjamin O. Yantis, 83, of Logansport, went to be with his Lord and Savior March 5, 2021 in Sebring, Florida.  Mr. Yantis was born September 7, 1937 to the late Ralph and Mary Margaret (Myers) Yantis.  On April 16, 1970 in the Metea Baptist Church he married Ruth Ann (Michael) Cowell who survives.

Other survivors include daughters, Colleen M. Staker, Indiana; N. Noreen (Dave) Brumett, Logansport; step-daughter Tina M. Cowles, Colorado and step-son Tim (Sara) Cowell, Twelve Mile.  Grandchildren include Seth, Zac, and Tayt Cowell; Wyatt, Bryn, and Jack Brumett; Morgan Woodruff, Alexandria Mulvaney; Kalia Cowles; and great-grandson Parker Woodruff.  Also surviving is sister, Nettie Schreiner-Yantis and several nieces and nephews.   He is preceded in death by two grandsons, Tyler Mulvaney and Toby Cowell, two son-in-law’s, Jan Cowles and Timmy Staker.  Ben’s parents and sisters, Norma Martin and Marilyn Becker also preceded him in death.

Ben was a member of Metea Baptist Church and Tanglewood Community Church in Sebring, Florida where he spent his winters.  He graduated from Metea High School in 1955 in a class of ten.

Since 1962, Mr. Yantis owned and operated a farm implement business that his father had started in 1934.  His nickname for all the people he dealt with was “Bargain Ben”.  He bought and sold machinery all over the country from California to New York, Florida to Canada.  He enjoyed his time as a dealer in farm equipment until his retirement in 1993.  In 1988, he had the honor of having the largest sales volume of all New Idea Farm Equipment dealers east of the Mississippi.  Ben also farmed, raising corn and beans, and for eighteen years raised popcorn for Orville Redenbacher.

Ben was involved in missions all of his life.  He and his wife considered themselves to be “missionaries to the missionaries”.  His first trip was to Haiti and this vocation lasted a lifetime.  He has been on and led over 50 mission trips around the world teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing God’s love.  He designed and built over 800 stainless steel pumps to get clean water to those in Guyana, South America.  He also helped set up Bible training sessions for the Guyanese pastors and church leaders.  His most recent mission was at the local detention center, sharing the Lord with those incarcerated.  He was passionate about sharing Christ with everyone he met and was always recruiting others to join him on the mission field at home or abroad.

He was a former board member of World Missionary Press, New Paris, IN; Global Outreach International, Tupelo, MS; and President of Youth Services Alliance.  He also served on Purdue Baptist Advisory Board, Salin National Bank, and Tippecanoe Camp and Retreat Center, North Webster, IN.  In 2018, he was presented the Sagamore of the Wabash award for outstanding community service.

A celebration of life will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, March 13th at Gundrum Funeral Home in Logansport with Evangelist Brian Tyndall of Uttermost Ministries, friend and co-worker in missions.  Burial will be at Metea Baptist Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM until the time of service on Saturday. The funeral service will be live streamed at www.gundrumcares.com under the “Live Funeral Services” tab. The stream will begin 5-10 minutes before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Tanglewood Community Church, 1600 Tanglewood Circle, Sebring, FL 33872. Memo: Guyana Missions