* Benjamin Milbrandt Sr.; Retired Civil Servant, Help of Ojai Volunteer

Benjamin Milbrandt Sr., a former teacher and retired government administrator, died Tuesday at Ventura County Medical Center. He was 82.

Milbrandt was born July 5, 1917, in Princeton, Minn. He attended grade school in a one-room county school near his family’s home and in 1935 graduated from Princeton High School.

Milbrandt served in the Minnesota National Guard and was licensed as a private pilot in 1939.

In 1941, he graduated from St. Cloud Teacher’s College and taught school for four months at Sauk Rapids, Minn. The following year, he married Marion Carolyn Owens in his hometown.

He served two months in World War II before receiving a medical discharge and an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps.

Milbrandt continued his education, earning a master’s degree at the University of Illinois in 1956.

After a 30-year civil-service career, he retired in 1967 from Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill.

While living in Rantoul, he was active in civic affairs. He was a Boy Scout leader for more than 25 years, twice attended training at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M., was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Boy Scouts of America in February 1969, and was president of the Boy Scouts Arrowhead Council.

He was also a trustee of the American Lutheran Church, a village board member in Rantoul, and a member of the village planning commission for many years. He was active in the Masonic and Eastern Star Organizations. In 1969, he received the DeMolay Cross of Honor from the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay.

In 1987, he moved to Ojai with his wife and continued his community involvement. He volunteered with Help of Ojai, which serves seniors and retired people in the Ojai area, and was again active in Eastern Star and Masonic organizations.

In addition to his wife Marion of Ventura, he is survived by their daughter Vivian Snyder of Stockton, their sons Ben Jr. of Folsom and Roy of Ventura; a brother, Harold Milbrandt of Princeton, Minn.; and six grandchildren.

Memorial services are scheduled at 11 a.m. today at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.

Contributions in his name may be made to Help of Ojai, 111 W. Santa Ana St., Ojai, CA 93023.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.