Ben was born Jan. 4, 1934, in Genoa, Neb., to Benedict Sylvester and Florence (Kiolbasa) Cuba. He attended country school and Catholic grade school in the area. He attended high school in Fullerton, Neb. as well as helped his parents on the family farm.

Ben enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1954, spending time in Germany and North Africa. During the Korean Conflict, Ben was assigned to Kaufbeuren Air Force Base in Germany where he met his wife, Elfriede “Elfie” Sauerwein. They were married in the base chapel on Nov. 10, 1956, and had their first son, John, prior to Ben’s discharge from the Air Force. They returned to Nebraska where Ben worked the family farm and many other jobs including maintaining township roads in Nance County. Ben fulfilled a dream by obtaining his pilot’s license in 1975 and in 1980 moved the family to Minnesota where he worked as a flight instructor, commercial pilot and FAA examiner for Crystal Shamrock Aviation at the airport in Crystal, Minn. Ben loved flying charter flights for fishermen into Canada as well as aerobatic flying. Ben also enjoyed working part time at EL-HY-MEC and O’Brien Sheet Metal Company in Minneapolis, Minn. Ben was a member of St. Raphael Catholic Church in Crystal, Minn. After his retirement, Ben and Elfie moved to Sherburn, Minn., where they enjoyed living for over 20 years. There he loved gardening and delivering his vegetables to the neighborhood. In Sherburn, Ben was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church where he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Ben was also a member of the American Legion, VFW and DAV. Due to declining health, Ben and Elfie moved to Clayton, N.C. to be closer to their daughter, Barbara and son-in-law, Brad. There he enjoyed watching the many birds in his bird feeder, golfers in his back yard and beloved cat, Mikey. Ben is survived by his wife, Elfie; sons, John Cuba, Frank Cuba (Nancy); daughter, Barbara Skerik (Brad); grandchildren, Carter, Logan, Mackenzie, Jessica; and great-grandchildren, Grace and Abigail. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene and Alois; and sisters, Frances and Eleanor. Memorials can be sent to Boys Town of Nebraska, of which he supported most of his life.

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