Luther Benson "Ben" Cooper, Jr.

Luther Benson “Ben” Cooper, Jr., 83, of Lake St. Louis, Missouri, passed away on November 20th, 2020 in Lake St. Louis, MO.

A celebration of his life will be scheduled for a later date.

Ben was born at home in Neely’s Landing, Missouri to Luther Benson Cooper and Dorris Ida Cooper nee Shipman on June 10, 1937.  He grew up and graduated from high school in Jackson, Missouri.  He married Norma Jean Cooper nee Freese on June 14, 1958 in Jackson, Missouri.  After winning the Missouri state championship in the half mile, he attended the University of Missouri on a track scholarship and graduated with a civil engineering degree.  Ben was an avid track & field and Missouri Tiger fan.  He also loved to play golf.

He worked for a number of highway construction contractors during his career, working as a project manager for Fred Weber Construction for the last 17 years of his career.  He was a registered professional engineer in Missouri, Kentucky, and New York and was a member of the American Society of Professional Engineers and the Missouri Society of Civil Engineers.  He was member of the University of Missouri Engineering Advisory Board. 

Ben and Norma enjoyed spending time traveling with their children and the Mizzou Touring Tigers.

Ben is preceded in death by his parents 

Ben is survived by his wife Norma; dear bother-in-law Larry Freese and dear sister-in-law Jan Freese; sons Keith (Patti), Steve (Tracy); daughter Nancy Ledbetter (Todd); grandsons Brad Lybrook, Andrew Cooper, Charlie Ledbetter, Sam Allard; grand-daughters Kayte Ledbetter, Mia Ledbetter, Abby Allard, Katie Allard; loving nieces Tara Clifford (Brian), Kristi Deneke (Derrick), Lindsey Campbell; three great-nephews and four great-nieces.

Memorials may be given to the University of Missouri Engineering School- Ben Cooper Scholarship.

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