Benjamin J. Hampson

Benjamin (Ben) Joseph Hampson of Livingston, MT went to the arms of the Lord on September 3, 2024. He was 46 years old. 

 Ben was born March 26, 1978, in Livingston, MT to Greg and Judy (Martinz) Hampson. He is the third of five children.

Ben attended St. Mary’s School in Livingston until the family moved to Whitehall in 1989. The family moved to the Sheridan, Wyoming area in 1992. Ben considered the Ash Creek area to be his childhood home and attended the Tongue River Schools in Ranchester and Dayton. He graduated from high school in 1997. Ben attended Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, WY and received an Associates Degree in Equine Science.

In his youth, Ben wrestled in Livingston and Whitehall. During middle and high school he played basketball. He was active in 4-H and FFA, focusing on raising pigs and reaping the rewards of the county fair sales. He was active in high school rodeo as a bareback rider and was very successful. In fact, he attended a rodeo instead of his own high school graduation. In 1997 he was the Wyoming State Bareback Champion and won the saddle. He also enjoyed training horses while living with his family in the Ash Creek area.

In 2010, Ben married Brittney Montgomery. To this union he brought his children Thaddeus and Denie from his previous marriage to Kelly Dodge. He also gained a daughter, Avery Montgomery. Blending families was a challenging and beautiful process for this family. They welcomed a daughter, Olivia, in 2011 and, as Ben liked to say, “the caboose,” Lucas in 2014.

Ben worked with Carroll Fencing in Sheridan, WY and RY-Timber in Livingston. He hired on with MRL Railroad in Livingston as a locomotive electrician in May 2004 and worked there until his passing. He enjoyed his work and was very proud to continue a long family history of railroading. He passionately gave Operation Lifesaver presentations to hundreds of people for 15 years. 

 Above all else, Ben cherished being a husband and father. Ben’s world revolved around the many activities and events of his children’s lives. He loved coaching his children’s basketball, t-ball, baseball, and wrestling teams. He was loved and appreciated by all the players and their families. Among the many things he loved to do with his family were hunting and processing meat, ice fishing, taking vacations, camping, rafting the river, jitterbug dancing, and weekend movie nights. He loved the many traditions he built with his family and there was little they did not all do together. He was delighted when the oldest kids would stop in for a visit and was the most happy when all his kids were home. Ben had a little known thrill-seeking side. He loved skydiving, bungee jumping, and riding the wildest roller coasters he could find. Ben never missed the opportunity to spoil his girls or to teach his boys a skill or life lesson. He enjoyed spending time in his shop, building and fixing things. There was nothing he couldn’t do, including building 2 additions to their home and renovating nearly every room inside.

 Ben is preceded in death by his grandparents, Walt and Mildred Martinz of Big Timber, MT, and Bill and Martha Hampson of Livingston, MT. Ben is survived by his wife, Brittney and children, Thaddeus, Denie, Avery, Olivia and Lucas, all of Livingston, MT; His parents Greg and Judy Hampson of Sheridan, WY; brothers Bill of Sheridan, WY, and Joe of Douglas, WY; sisters Jackie (Dustin) Sene of Yellowstone National Park, and Andrea (Bobby) Singh of Arizona; half brother from his father's side Marc (Silke) Zwikirsch of Germany; and many special aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. 

A Rosary will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday, September 26, at 7:00 pm.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Friday, September 27, at 1:00 pm with Father Garrett officiating. Committal will be held at Parkview Cemetery following the service.  A reception will be held afterwards at the O'Hair Ranch Lodge.

Please visit below to offer condolences.