Ben was born August 20, 1947, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Richard and Carol Pearce Crawford. He was raised in Grinnell and was a 1965 graduate of Grinnell High School. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam as a Seabee. On September 29, 1968, Ben married the love of his life, Marla Martin. To this union 3 children were born, Carrie, Cristina, and Clint. The couple made their home in Grinnell and he was employed for various companies before taking over Crawford Tree Service in 1986. Ben lived life to the fullest and some of his passions were, hunting, having a bank of good jokes that kept everyone laughing, magic tricks, Gospel and bluegrass music, and his Harley and the motorcycle trips ha and Marla took whenever they could get away. He was good at everything he did, putting his heart into everything. Some of his projects included, teaching him-self to play the guitar and other musical instruments, turning their house into a beautiful home where everyone felt welcomed, and building dulcimers, a radio-controlled airplanes and even a full-size chopper motorcycle. Ben was a man of strong faith. As his health issues worsened, his Christian witness strengthened and he proclaimed God's love and grace to all he interacted with. Whenever anyone asked him how he was, Ben would say, 'Just nearly perfect!' . . . and now he is. Survivors include his wife Marla of Grinnell; his mother, Carol of Grinnell; three children, Carrie Martin of Grinnell, Cristina (Blake) DeKoning of Grinnell, and Clint (Michelle) Crawford of Eldridge; seven grandchildren, Payton and Kaelin Martin, Bryce, Jarrett and Drew DeKoning,and Ben and Luke Crawford; one brother, Richard (Sara) Crawford of Sioux City; and many aunts, uncles and cousins, and a multitude of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Dick; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marguerite and Bill Martin and granddaughter, Evelyn Grace DeKoning.