Stanley Kent Stroup April 4, 1961 ~ January 16, 2026

By Jason Frederick | January 22, 2026 |

Stanley Kent Stroup was born in Benkelman on April 4, 1961 to Boyd and Betty Stroup. Stan was the youngest of three, following oldest sister, Rhonda, and brother, Steve. He was spoiled rotten from the beginning. He attended country school at District 66, then later finished elementary school in Benkelman and finally graduated from Benkelman High School in 1979. His orneriness started young. Many times, he told the story of him picking up the phone and calling in a fire in elementary school. His only flaw was that he told them his name before he hung up the phone. Supposedly, in high school, he also sneaked into the classroom to change his grade on the teacher’s report card. He later attended Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. He returned home to the family farm and ranch in 1981. While helping on the family farm he also worked for Lee Orman Trucking, hauling ag products across Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana. Stan and Janice were married on September 19, 1987. Their first son, Josiah, was born on February 8, 1989. Twin daughters, Katie and Hannah, followed on December 30, 1991. The youngest, Faith, was born on July 16, 1993. Stan told the story multiple times how great-grandma Ruth Stroup (a preacher’s daughter) told him he needed to be “more careful” after she found out they were having a fourth child. Stan had love for his family, farming, and Labrador Retrievers. He made sure his kids knew how to work hard and he and his wife, Janice, spent 38 years raising them to do just that. Stan enjoyed going and watching his kids participate in sports and could be found pacing floor side at just about every sporting event. I don’t know if there was one game or event that he or Janice didn’t go to or support. Speaking of events, whoever got the cookies made with pancake batter at the half-time cake raffle that one year? I’m sorry, that was Dad’s idea. Stan enjoyed substitute teaching at the schools and had a love for photography. His love of good Clint Eastwood movies is how Josiah or “Josey” got his name. Stan also enjoyed hosting his class reunion supper to catch up with classmates and get the latest gossip. He was also exceptionally proud of the AI herd that he started as a young man. Stan was a big fan of fireworks and loved to go overboard for the Fourth of July. One year the firework tipped over and aimed right at him. Stan jumped out of his lawn chair to get out of the way, but his gym shorts fell to his ankles. Somehow, he managed to make it to the front porch without falling. Stan’s biggest passion was for guns which he shared with his son Josiah. Stan enjoyed BS-ing with the guys at the coffee shop and stopping in at Hannah’s hair shop down the street to give her a hard time. Honestly, he loved giving everybody a hard time. He loved hearing of Faith’s ranching adventures in South Dakota and even got on a horse once for a few seconds just to snap a picture to show the coffee shop crew. Katie is known as the “favorite” even after she crashed the feed truck into a house in town. She was the first to get married and bring on the grandkids. Since 2018, Stan and Janice were known as PaPa Stan and Grandma JJ. Blessed with eight, soon to be nine, grandchildren. He loved each one dearly. Once old enough, PaPa started the tradition of taking the grandkids to the Dub for an ice cream or putting a penny in the machine to get some M&Ms. This last summer they shared a great weekend with all the grandchildren at PaPa’s pond down on Indian Creek. Blessed with many memories, Stan leaves behind his wife Janice, son Josiah and wife Jacque of Benkelman, and their children, JoAnna and Jaslyn; daughter Katie and husband Jordan James of Franklin, and their children, Calvin, Cordell, Amelia and coming in May Baby James; daughter Hannah and husband Doug Lutz of Benkelman and their children Maggie, Cade and Trinity. Daughter Faith and husband Patrick Lehman and their children Hudson, Will and Della, of Belvidere, South Dakota. Joni and husband Dietrick Stuckenholtz and their children of Nebraska City. Stan is welcomed into heaven by his parents, Boyd and Betty Stroup and his in-laws, Barbara and Calvin Jones. Stanley was a proud husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, farmer, rancher, and neighbor. He loved the country life and there’s no doubt he is enjoying himself right now, free of pain and suffering. He will continue to guide his family just as he did before. Memorial contributions may be made to the Benkelman volunteer fire department. A celebration of life has been scheduled for 11:00 A.M. (MT) Friday, January 23, 2026 at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman with Pastor Jim Gleason Officiating. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.liewerfuneralhome.com Liewer Funeral Home/ Benkelman Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements.