Benjamin “Ben/Uncle Benny” Franklin Hill III was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Air Force Major Ben Hill and his wife Sue Disbrow Hill.  Ben spent his early years at various Air Force bases in the United States where he was joined by brothers David Owen and Daniel Paul.  His father moved the family to Cove, Oregon, where Ben attended first grade at Cove Elementary and met his lifelong friend, Matt Bristow. 

Later his family moved to Union, Oregon, where as a middle and high school student he participated in football, wrestling, baseball and track.  There he also met another lifelong friend, Jay Schram. 

He graduated from Union High School and from there Ben tried his hand at Aviation Maintenance and Mechanics, earning an Associate’s Degree from Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon.  In Eugene he also attended the University of Oregon, and while he did not complete a degree there, he began his lifelong love of the U and all things Duck.

Ben attended Eastern Oregon State College where he met and married his wife, Lisa.  He began working toward a teaching degree there and finished that degree with classes from WSU Tri-Cities and eventually a BA in Education from Eastern Washington University. 

He taught at Kiona-Benton Middle School for his entire career of 26 years.  He also coached at both the middle school and high school levels in wrestling, football, softball and one year of seventh grade girls’ basketball. His proudest moments were seeing his nieces, nephews and students succeed in their efforts at school and sports.  He loved to see his kids putting forth their best effort in all things.  He loved helping kids to enjoy history and hands on technology activities, most famously with the integration of the once yearly trebuchet challenge. 

He enjoyed helping support and develop the Little Guy wrestling program in Benton City, brought archery to Ki-Be Middle School and relished the role of Ranger Hill during his sixth graders’ yearly Camp Wooten Outdoor School weeks.

He was awarded the WIAA A wrestling coach of the year award but was proudest to see his wrestlers receive scholarships for their efforts. 

He is survived by his wife, Lisa, his brothers Dan (wife Shelley) and Dave (wife Carol), half-brother Rick (wife Tammie), half-sister Terri,  stepbrothers Bob Briggs (wife Sandy), Clay Briggs (wife Hoi), Kenny Briggs, Tony Briggs (wife Lisa), and step sisters Annie Trobaugh (husband Gene), Jeanne Gonzales (husband Joe), and Kit Blevins, his sister in law, Leslie Sievers (husband Fred), brother in law Eric Miller (wife Kristin), and Kyle Miller (wife Raynee), mother and father in law Kaye and Bill Miller, his chosen son Justin Rolland (wife Ashley) along with numerous nieces, nephews, friends and students.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Briggs, his step father, Lloyd Briggs, and his father Benjamin Franklin Hill II. 

A memorial service is scheduled for 12 o’clock on Sunday, June 3^rd at Kiona Benton High School.  As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to My Friend’s Place (Kennewick Homeless Teen Shelter), Ki-Be Education Association student scholarship fund, or Benton City Hard Core Wrestling.