Ronald Ben Clinton

Ronald Ben “Benjie” Clinton passed away Monday, July 22, 2019 at home in Sand Hollow (New Plymouth). He was born February 9, 1963 to Edgar “Gene” and Hazel (Stubbs) Clinton in Emmett, Idaho. He was the youngest of four children.

He started life in New Plymouth, Idaho, then the family moved to Letha, Idaho; living there for four years before moving back to New Plymouth. Ben started first grade at New Plymouth Elementary School where his first grade teacher was the same one that taught his brother and sisters. Around the time he was in fifth grade the family moved to Emmett where he attended Brick Elementary, Parkview Jr. High, and Emmett High School.

Ben loved sports; he was always throwing a football or Nerf basketball. He participated in Punt, Pass, and Kick events and Optimist ball games; any chance he could play ball he would. In school he played basketball, football and ran track. He held the school record for the 800 meters at Emmett High School for a while. In his senior year, the Emmett High School Football Team rallied and came from behind to beat Bishop Kelley in an amazing last half of the fourth quarter.

After graduating in 1981 he went to Napa, California to attend Napa Valley College and play football. When living in Napa he was baptized at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; being a member of the LDS church was something he took pride in, something he would share with everyone. While living in Napa his mother died; it was hard to be far away and deal with this loss. After her funeral he returned to Napa to find out the football program had been dropped. He finished the year and returned to Emmett and worked at Honco Industries. His goal was to go on a mission for his church. In 1984 he went to Calgary, Canada as a missionary. The two years he spent there were wonderful for him. He made great friends and grew in his faith.

When he returned from his mission he applied to go to BYU in Provo, Utah. While in Provo he worked for Sears at their calling center. He met his future wife, Michelle Tuckett, while interviewing prospective job applicants for Sears. They were married in 1992 at Salt Lake City, Utah; they divorced in 1995. Ben moved back to New Plymouth to live in his childhood home with his father. He was a wonderful companion for his dad.

Ben was a big fan of the Washington Redskins. He once got Mark Rypien to sign his Redskins hat. He kept it on the coffee table the last year of his life. He was also a fan of college football and took every opportunity to go to a high school football game that he could.

He loved God, his family, his church family, friends, children, sports, movies, watching football in person or on TV, a good heated discussion of politics, visiting with people, reading the newspaper, and helping others.

He is survived by his father Edgar Clinton of New Plymouth; his brother Stan (Martha) Clinton of New Plymouth; his sisters Phyllis (Richard) Eager of Sand Hollow (Caldwell) and Robin Clinton of Meridian; his nieces Debbie (Robert) Reyes of Emmett, Melissa (Anson) Cornell and daughter Avery of Emmett, and Jessica Winter of Meridian; his nephews Darin (Mary) Clinton of Caldwell, Dennis Clinton and his son Gunner of New Plymouth, Duke (Tasha) Clinton and daughters Sophia, Grace, and Olivia of Ridgefield, Washington, David (Jeanne) Clinton and kids Ashlie, Amy of Nyssa, Oregon and Adam and Lindsey of Weiser, Travis Clinton and daughter Madison of Boise, Mike (Elisha) Daugherity and their kids Ryan and Ryker of Los Angeles, California, and Kenny Sharp of Emmett.

Ben is preceded in death by his mother Hazel Clinton and nephew David Clinton