Benjamin Ehlert

Benjamin Ehlert, 81, passed away on November 2, after battling cancer for several months.

Benjamin was born on August 5, 1937 in Rockford, Illinois to parents Arnold Ehlert and Thelma (Adolphs) Ehlert.  The Ehlert family moved to Dallas, Texas where sister Elizabeth was born, and later to Pasadena, California where sister Eunice was born.

Following high school, Benjamin attended and graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California with a BS in Finance in 1959 and an MBA in 1962.  During his college years he served in the U.S. Navy as a reservist.

Benjamin’s career spanned more than 50 years as an investment analyst and portfolio manager at Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company and PIMCO where he rose to the position of Executive Vice President.  He retired in 2014.

Benjamin married Erika Kneidl and although the couple later divorced, they had two wonderful children:  a son, Karl Ehlert of Redwood City, California and a daughter Lanita (Ehlert) Madden of Jacksonville, Florida.  He later married Elaine Patteson Ehlert.  Upon retirement they moved to Ridgway, Colorado where Benjamin learned to ski and as a member of the Colorado Mountain Club, he proudly hiked 33 of Colorado’s fourteeners!

Shortly after Elaine’s death, Benjamin married Rita Landgrave and they spent three and one-half blissful years traveling the world, taking cruises, dancing and visiting their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Benjamin is survived by his wife, Rita; Children, Karl Ehlert; Lanita Madden; sisters, Elizabeth Weiss; Eunice Castle; grandchildren, Lauren Ehlert, Mari Thompson; Kyle Madden; Erika Madden; Warren Madden; David Madden; and Hannah Madden; great grandchildren, Smith Thompson and Ford Thompson.  Benjamin will be remembered as a loving husband and father and a devoted Christian. He was a great handyman, a decent cook, and he loved music from Blue Grass to Baroque.

Services are to be determined at a later date with family.

Benjamin was active in his church and memorial contributions may be made to Ouray Christian Fellowship in Ouray, Colorado.

Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory, Montrose, Colorado is assisting the family.