Ben L. Pate, age 76, of Elkhart, Kansas died Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Baptist St. Anthony Hospice in Amarillo, Texas. He was born February 26, 1936 on the farm near Elkhart, Kansas, the son of Herbert and Virgie (Lewis) Pate.

Ben was a lifetime resident of Morton County. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1953 and attended Kansas University and Fort Hays State College. Ben married Barbara J. Sagebiel on June 5, 1955 in Elkhart. Ben started The Pate Agency in 1979. He sold real estate and crop insurance and held a commodities license. For a number of years he won the High Award for Volume in Crop Insurance. Ben also farmed, raised cattle, and built and operated Spur Feeders. He developed OKanco a co-op for crop insurance, and was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church in Elkhart.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara of the home; two sons, Jeff Pate and wife Sky, Steve Pate and wife Debbie; one daughter, Pam Bloesser and husband Rick all of Elkhart, Kansas; brother, Wesley Pate of Athens, Georgia; four sisters, Betsy Peterson of San Diego, California, Martha Richards of Kansas City, Kansas, June Elder of Las Vegas, Nevada, Joyce Sagebiel and husband Jim of Elkhart, Kansas; 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral service will be held Monday, June 4, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the First Baptist Church in Elkhart, Kansas with Reverend Ed Richards officiating. Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. Memorials may be given to BSA Hospice or C.A.T.S. (Children Achieving To Succeed) in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950.