Benjamin David “Benji” Smith, age 22, a former resident of Mapleton, Kansas, left this troubled world and was welcomed into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ on December 12, 2024.
He was currently serving in the United States Navy at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, on the USS Florida (SSGN-728). Benji was born March 25, 2002, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Randall Douglas Smith and Tonya Linn Hill Smith.
Shortly after his birth, the Smith family moved to France in preparation for the mission field. They served as missionaries in the West African nation of Ivory Coast and later in Burkina Faso. Even at a young age, Benji had a very outgoing personality and loved interacting with the African people.
The family occasionally returned to the United States for furlough but returned for good in 2017. Benji dearly loved his church family at Xenia Baptist Church. He graduated from the Christian Learning Center in 2020 and went on to receive an associate’s degree from Ft. Scott Community College. He later enlisted with the United States Navy. He had completed the Naval Nuclear Power Training Course and currently held the rank of Petty Officer Second Class.
Benji loved being outdoors and running. He was very meticulous and intelligent but also possessed a keen wit and a sharp sense of humor.
Survivors include his parents, Randy and Tony Smith of Mapleton and siblings, Jonathan, of Ft. Scott, LaRée of Lexington Kentucky, and Joshua, who is also serving in the Navy at the Naval Nuclear Power Command in Charleston, South Carolina. Also surviving are his maternal grandparents, Bill and June Hill of Mapleton as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Benji was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Norman and Kay Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 30th at the Xenia Baptist Church.
Burial with full military honors will follow in the Mapleton Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 P.M. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Xenia Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com