Benjamin J. Haller, Jr., 88, of West Des Moines, passed away Monday, October 15 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October 19, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 16th and Grand, West Des Moines, followed by burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Sacred Heart parish center, with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

Ben was born July 14, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska. He graduated from Creighton University in 1942 with a degree in journalism and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

Commissioned as a first lieutenant, he flew 19 combat missions in the European theatre as a bombardier aboard a B-24 Liberator. His plane was shot down over Yugoslavia in February, 1945 and after a month his crew was rescued by U.S. forces.

Ben and his wife, Peggy, moved to Des Moines in 1945 and to West Des Moines in 1947. He was hired by Northwestern Banker magazine, a trade journal serving the banking industry, eventually becoming owner, editor and publisher before retiring in 1988. He was widely known in banking circles in Iowa and other Midwestern states as a pundit and advocate for the industry.

He was a longtime active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Serra Club. He was instrumental in planning and supporting the construction of Sacred Heart School in 1952.

Ben is survived by Peggy, his wife of 63 years; their five children, Benjamin III, of San Francisco, John, of Walnut Creek, California, Tom (Jann) of Omaha, Ann (Brian) Gismot, of Johnson City, New York, and Mary Sue (Al) Lone of Urbandale; eight grandchildren, Erin (David) Morain of Jefferson, Iowa, Sara and Catherine Haller of Omaha, Nathan (Sarah) Gismot of Lyndhurst, New
Jersey, Megan Gismot of New York City, Jessica (Erik) Bair of Des Moines, and Kevin and Timmy Lone of Urbandale. He is also survived by two sisters and three brothers, Betty Davidson of Denver, Agnes Bertoldi of Everett, Washington, Dr. Mike Haller of Omaha, Pat Haller of Omaha, and Dr. Jim Haller of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Benjamin and Agnes Haller of Omaha, and eight brothers and sisters.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dowling Catholic High School or Mercy Hospice.