Millard County Chronicle Progress. Leon Benjamin Lyman, age 53, died of cancer on July 25th, 2009 in Gilbert, Arizona. Ben was the husband of Lori LeSueur and the father of five, the grandfather of five and was the fifth child born to Melvin Anderson Lyman and Laura Pearl Bronson Lyman on June 10th, 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ben graduated from Delta High School in 1972. He attended Southern Utah State College (Now S.U.U.) and was a building contractor by trade. Ben had absolute integrity in his business dealings with others as a home builder. He would not cut corners for excess profit. He would always do the finest work he could do and taught his boys to be that kind of builder. He owned a building business in Washoe Valley, Nevada for several years and worked for Highland Homes in Gilbert Arizona for 15 years. Ben loved to work and he loved to teach others to work. He often was left for months at a time to run his father's farm as a young teen.

Ben met and married Lori in 1976. He loved his wife dearly. She was the light of his life. He once told Lori, "It will take at least forty years to build a mansion in heaven worthy of you." He was a kind and loving father and beloved grandfather. Ben adored his children and grandchildren. He loved to take them fishing and teach them. Ben was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in several callings including Bishop. Ben loved the youth and never missed an opportunity to teach.

Several years ago Ben returned home to Delta for a family gathering. He took several teenaged and pre-teen boys to the river for a swim. The water became dangerous and one of the boys almost drowned. A few days before his death, Ben was reminded of the event. He told of the experience he had that day. He said, "I had a choice. I knew I could only save one of those boys. I knew if they got caught in the undercurrent, they would drowned and I would drowned trying to save them. When you battle an undercurrent, if you swim in the direction you think you need to go, you will get caught. If you swim the way you don't think you should go, you will get out. I told Benny to swim this way. I knew Benny would listen. I told all the others to swim this way. If they had all not listened, I would have drowned out there with all of them. If they had not obeyed, we would have all drowned."

Ben is survived by his wife, Lori LeSueur Lyman, his sons; Benjamin Adam Lyman, Daniel Anderson Lyman, Richard Andrew Lyman and Joseph Anthony Lyman, his daughter; Elizabeth Ann Lyman Richins, his daughters in law; Amy Marie (Terry) Lyman, Stephanie Ann (Shepherd) Lyman, his son in law; John Stephen Richins, his Grandchildren; Benson Adam Lyman, Bronson Terry Lyman, Jefferson Thomas Lyman, Anne Kristeen Richins, Claire Elizabeth Richins, and his sisters, brothers, stepsisters and stepbrothers: Kathleen Lyman Bailey, Sandra Lyman Olsen, Matthew Mason Lyman, Robin Andrew Lyman, Laura (Lollie) Lyman Debenham, Elizabeth Lyman Reinhard, Samuel Lorenzo (Ren) Lyman, Mary Eleanor Lyman Button, Luke Ammon Lyman, Kimberly Elizabeth Villani, Kristina Marie Villani Beal, Richard Paul Villani and John Michael Villani.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Anderson Lyman, Laura Pearl Bronson and his stepmother, Paula Marie Lyman and brothers Alma Lynn Lyman and Edmund Ray Cornpeach and sisters, Cleo and LaRene Lyman. Ben was loved by nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Ben was a shining example to us all and will be greatly missed. One of his final statements was, "I have requested, 'Lord, I would follow thee', for the opening hymn at my funeral. I don't know if it will happen, because I won't be there. For the closing hymn I have requested, 'Lord, I would Follow Thee'". Ben lived a simple life of love and obedience. Funeral was Friday, July 30, 2009 at the San Tan Stake Center, Gilbert, AZ.