Rev. Benjamin E. Rieger, 97, of Grand Island, formerly of Lincoln, died Thursday, July 29, 2010, at Edgewood Vista in Grand Island.

Memorial services will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, at Rudge Chapel in Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln.  The Rev. Lonnie Logan will officiate.

Mr. Rieger’s wishes were to be cremated.  There will be a gathering of family and friends at All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island from 5-7 p.m. on Friday.  All Faiths Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Rieger was born April 27, 1913, on the family farm outside of Hebron, North Dakota, to Phillip and Katherina (Reich) Rieger, the 4 th of 13 children.

Survivors of the immediate family include his daughter and son-in-law, Joline and Keith Sinor of Grand Island.  Other survivors include his granddaughter, Heather Davis and great-granddaughters Alexis and MacKenzie Davis, all of Dallas; two sisters, Elsie Nordgren of Graham, WA, and Ruth (Ben) Gruetter of Portland, OR.  Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.  In addition to his wife, Mr. Rieger was preceded in death by his son, Jim.

Mr. Rieger graduated from Yankton College and then Yankton College School of Theology in South Dakota in 1943.  He was a minister in the United Church of Christ for 36 years, the last 28 of them in Lincoln.  He retired from the ministry in 1977.  He and his wife Lillian lived in Lincoln for 55 years.  When they decided they were getting old (he was 93), in June 2006, they moved to Grand Island to be closer to their daughter and son-in-law who had been encouraging the move for years.  Lillian passed away in April 2008 after their marriage of 65 years, and he continued to live independently until illness prompted the move to Edgewood Vista in June 2009.

Mr. Rieger’s only granddaughter, Heather, was a special joy in his life.  During her college years on campus at UNL in Lincoln, he and Lillian happily provided the home-away-from-home for her to retreat to.  He was very proud of her and her accomplishments, and always spoke most lovingly of her.

Mr. Rieger was a master gardener in the true sense of the phrase, practicing both bin and row composting for many decades, always improving the earth.  He was a life-long gardener and gardened into his 95 th year.  That year he showed his beloved great-granddaughters how to braid the fall garlic crop for winter storage, and shared the joy of digging a few potatoes with them – making memories.

He was a firm believer in the power of exercise.  He had a room full of exercise equipment and he used it – again into his 95 th year.  He had a sign he was fond of and sometimes wore around his neck that said: “You don’t quit exercising because you get old.  You get old because you quit exercising.”

Musical instruments were always important to him.  After retirement he began making hammer dulcimers and then repairing and finally making violins, beginning with one small-size violin for his granddaughter when she was a little girl.

He became interested in clock repair and that became another hobby for over 30 years.  He often marveled at the uniqueness of the workings from one clock to another – a challenge he relished.  Eventually he began building grandfather clocks which were given to family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Edgewood Vista, 214 Piper St., Grand Island, or to the United Congregational Church, 405 E. Bismark, Grand Island.

Condolences may be sent to www.giallfaiths.com

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