The passing of Benjamin Leikauskas (Lekiuskas, Lakauskas, Lakawskas) of 301 Oak and Maffett St., Sugar Notch, Pa., occurred last night at 9:50 p.m. at the Franklin Convalescent Home following a lengthy illness. He was the loving husband of Mary Civilika (Maryta Cvilikas).  He was the son of Polish immigrants to Lithuania who came from a small village called Laskowka in Southeast Poland.  After leaving the small family dairy farm in Lithuania, (Beni trained as an apprentice blacksmith) he arrived in America in 1913 at the age of 26 before the German occupation of Kasiadorys (Aponiskes Kaisiadoriu raj.) during WW1, Beni stayed with his sister Mrs. Aneilia (Nellie Jaksas/ Yaksa) Verbitsky in Freeland, Pa. Two years later he moved to Sugar Notch, Pa. to work in the No. 9 Colliery.

Family search radau, kad Bengaminas Leikauskas j Amerika emigravo 1913m, budama 19m amziaus, it tikitina, su kitais savo seimos nariais.

Benjaminas and Marita exchanged marriage vows on January 20, 1918 at Holy Family Church in Sugar Notch, Pa. by Rev. Francis Kasaczun in the presence of Leo Kaimlinas and Aniela Sabalauckas. Rev. A. Halicki was pastor.

When the mine shut down for repair, the couple relocated to Winona, West Virginia for work in the coal mines, returning to Pennsylvania when the colliery reopened. It later became the Glen Alden Mine.

Beni was a founder and supporter of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Sugar Notch. He was tall, had dark brown hair, handsome and wore fine suits with silk shirts. He smoked cigarettes, played both popular tunes and Polkas on the accordian, and loved to eat pork chops. Beni was an expert marksman shooting pheasant and ducks with his double barrel shotgun and deer with his 30-06 hunting rifle. He was an aficionado for fine Cadillac coups (purchased from his nephews who owned Freeland Motors) and always had a shiny new half dollar in his pocket for a visiting grandchild.

Surviving are his wife Mary, children, Barbara (Thomas) Adamski, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Evelyn (Edward) Westfall, Nelson, N.Y.; Ann (William) Roche, Wilkes-Barre; Mary (Edward) Timins R.N., Scranton; Vincent, Detroit; Bernard, Buffalo; Tina (Joseph) Alexis, Garwood, N.J.; Patricia (Anthony) Kukliewicz, Warrior Run; 19 grandchildren.

The funeral was held at the Peter Matikiewicz Funeral Home, 23 Mosier Street, Hanover Section, Nanticoke, Thursday morning at 8:30, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 at Sts. Peter and Paul Lithuanian Church, Sugar Notch. Interment was in the parish cemetery, Freed St., Sugar Notch. Friends could call, 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 p.m.

www.findagrave.com/memorial/2…