Benjamin Francis Dirckx

Benjamin Francis Dirckx was born on July 10, 1988, in Marshall, to Josh and Heidi (Hansen) Dirckx. He grew up on the family farm south of town. Ben attended Holy Redeemer School and graduated from Marshall High School in 2007 where he was an active member and leader in both the marching and jazz bands. From a young age he always was interested in discovering how exactly things worked, so it was no surprise when he pursued a career as a test engineer, he said: “I want to break big things.” Ben was in the process of completing his senior year at Minnesota State University – Mankato with a Major in Automotive EngineeRing and Manufacturing. He was very active with the Society oF Automotive Engineering Club. He was proud of the clubs participation and efforts with the design, building, and racing of their baja and formula cars. Ben was an outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his family. He also enjoyed summer time spent with family at Pickerel Lake near Fergus Falls. Ben was intelligent and creative, a perfect person for hiS field and a person both family and friends looked up to and admired. Ben died on Monday, November 22, 2010, in St. Peter, MN, as the result of an automobile accident incurred while traveling to Eagan where he was interning with Bi-Phase Tehcnologies, LLC. He is survived by his parents, Josh and Heidi, brothers Adam and Nicholas, grandmother Jean Dirckx of Marshall, grandfather Jerome Hansen on Menomonie, WI, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Fran Dirckx, grandmother Marj Hansen, Aunt Lori Fehrman and cousins Hannah and Jacob Dirckx. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.