Benoni Willard Asdell passed away January 3, 2024 at the age of 91 with injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Ben was born in Scotland, Indiana on March 3, 1932 to Drib and Sophia Asdell. He lived a great small town Depression-era life with 3 brothers and 1 sister. He graduated from Scotland High School in 1949 and joined the US Air Force shortly thereafter. He attended basic training at Keesler Air Force base in Mississippi and also spent time at Lackland Air Force base in Texas. He was deployed to Japan during the Korean War where he worked in radio surveillance. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1954. He then worked various jobs including driving a truck and became a member of the iron workers union. He then met a girl from another small town, Jane Elizabeth Ackerman, and they were married in January of 1958. Ben then began his undergraduate studies at Butler University while working and supporting his family. He entered the IU School of Dentistry in 1961 and graduated in 1965. He continued to have several jobs and 3 children while in dental school. He then moved his family to Loogootee, Indiana where he entered the practice of general dentistry with his father-in-law, Dr. B.A. Ackerman. As is the case in many small towns, Ben was known only as “Doc” to the people of Loogootee. Ben practiced general dentistry in Loogootee until 2015 when he begrudgingly retired from the profession he loved. He loved dentistry not only for the service he provided but for the ability to talk with his patients. He was an awesome storyteller and used that skill to relate to his patients. He was also a great contributor to his community. He was a member of multiple boards and associations , including the American Dental Association, the Indiana Dental Association, the Greene County Dental Association, the Knights of Columbus (4th Degree), the Navy League of Crane, the Boy Scouts, IU Alumni , IUSD Alumni and West Boggs Development. He was also the Greene District Trustee for the Indiana Dental Association for many years. He was very proud of his participation and his many contributions.
Ben enjoyed life and loved having fun, especially with his family. He spent many days at West Boggs Park in Loogootee on the water with his family on the Tooth Ferry I and the Tooth Ferry II. He also loved the many family vacations that he and his family were a part of.
Ben was a huge sports fan, especially Loogootee and Indiana University sports. He loved listening to IU basketball games on the radio as he could not always get the games on TV. He also loved watching and following his grandkids in many of their activities.
Ben was baptized in the Catholic Church as an adult and became a very active participant. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church in Loogootee and St. Susanna Catholic Church in Plainfield. He was devout in his belief and took care of the religious men and women at his expense. He was extremely proud of his induction into the Fourth Degree of the Loogootee Knights of Columbus.
Ben is survived by his spouse, Shirley Silagi Asdell; his three children, Dr.Jay (Rulan), Dr.Susan Dorenbusch (Dr.Mike), and Dr.Steven (Dr.Tessa); 7 grandchildren, Dr.Patrick (Dr.Nicole), Joseph, Dr.Robert (Claire), Dr.Stephanie (Dr.Sachin), Will, Dr.Elizabeth, Ben and one great-grandchild, Wyatt. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane and a daughter, Elizabeth Ann.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Very Rev. J. Kenneth Walker at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 8th, 2024 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, January 8th, 2024 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Indiana University School of Dentistry – 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, attention John Hoffman.
Condolences may be made online at www.blakefuneralhomes.com.
Blake Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Benoni Willard Asdell.
