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The Unexpected Life And Tragic End Of Ben Rathbun: 5 Shocking Facts About The ’90 Day Fiancé’ Star’s Final Days

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The world of reality television was shaken in May 2025 with the tragic news of Ben Rathbun's passing. The former *90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days* star, known for his controversial romance with the much-younger Mahogany Roca, died at the age of 55 after a swift and brutal battle with Stage 4 stomach cancer. This article provides an in-depth look at the life, career, and final, difficult months of the reality TV alum, confirming details about his health struggle and his relationship with Mahogany Roca up until the very end.

The news, which surfaced on May 19, 2025, confirmed a devastating diagnosis that Ben had received just months prior, in late 2024. While his time on TLC was marked by skepticism and drama, his life outside the cameras was defined by a long-standing career in the insurance industry and his role as a devoted father. This is the complete profile of Ben Rathbun, a man who lived a life of two distinct halves: the family man and the reality TV persona.

Ben Rathbun: A Comprehensive Biographical Profile

Ben Rathbun was a multifaceted individual whose public life as a reality TV star often overshadowed his long and successful professional career and his deeply personal role as a father.

  • Full Name: Ben Rathbun
  • Date of Death: May 2025
  • Age at Death: 55
  • Cause of Death: Stage 4 Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer)
  • Hometown/Location of Death: Indiana, USA
  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Michigan State University; MBA in Risk Management & Insurance from Olivet College.
  • Primary Career: Insurance Executive. He was a third-generation President and CEO of The Rathbun Agency, a family-run independent insurance agency in Lansing, Michigan, founded in 1956.
  • Reality TV Appearance: Season 5 of *90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days* (2021-2022).
  • Marriages: Divorced from his first wife, Lisa Perry, after 24 years. He later married Mahogany Roca.
  • Children: A divorced father of four children from his first marriage.
  • Notable Legal Issues: Faced legal troubles, including an embezzlement charge stemming from a past job termination, which added to his controversial public image.

The Battle with Stage 4 Stomach Cancer and Final Days

The most shocking and tragic chapter of Ben Rathbun’s life began in late 2024. After experiencing a period of poor health, he received the devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 stomach cancer. Stage 4, or metastatic, cancer is the most advanced stage, meaning the disease had already spread from the stomach to distant parts of his body.

His final months were a private struggle, a stark contrast to his highly publicized life on reality television. Despite the aggressive nature of the disease, Ben was reportedly surrounded by his loved ones, including his children and his wife, Mahogany Roca, when he passed away in Indiana. The outpouring of support from family members who remembered him as a "child of God" and "the best father" highlighted the deep impact he had on their lives.

The swiftness of the illness was a shock to many fans and former castmates. Kimberly Menzies, a fellow *90 Day Fiancé* alum, was among those who publicly offered condolences, stating, "My heart breaks for his kids and family." The timeline—from diagnosis in late 2024 to his passing in May 2025—underscores the brutal and fast-moving nature of the illness he fought.

The Truth About Ben and Mahogany Roca’s Relationship

Ben Rathbun’s fame was inextricably linked to his relationship with Mahogany Roca, a Peruvian woman nearly 30 years his junior, whom he met online. Their courtship on *90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days* was one of the most talked-about storylines of Season 5, marked by skepticism over Mahogany’s authenticity and the significant age gap.

Despite the doubts and drama, the couple’s relationship continued after the show. Reports confirm that they did eventually marry. Following Ben’s death, rumors circulated online that the couple had separated or that Mahogany was not present during his final days. Mahogany Roca, however, resurfaced on social media to address these speculations directly.

Mahogany candidly revealed on Instagram that she was, in fact, by his side. She shared an emotional tribute, writing, "I slept in hospitals with you," a clear and poignant statement that they remained a couple until his death and that she supported him through his battle with stomach cancer. This update provided a rare, intimate glimpse into the final chapter of their controversial but enduring love story, confirming that their connection was genuine despite the initial reality TV drama.

Beyond Reality TV: The Insurance Executive and Family Man

While millions knew Ben Rathbun as the former pastor pursuing a young woman overseas, his professional life was anchored in the business world of Lansing, Michigan. Ben was a highly educated and successful insurance executive, holding a Bachelor’s in Finance from Michigan State University and an MBA in Risk Management & Insurance from Olivet College.

He was a key figure in his family’s business, The Rathbun Agency, which was founded by his grandfather's two brothers. Ben joined the agency in 2014, became a partner in 2019, and eventually rose to the position of President and CEO, continuing the agency’s six-decade legacy. His work at The Rathbun Agency was focused on commercial and personal lines, and he was recognized for his contributions to the local community, including the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.

Before his insurance career, and even during his brief foray into reality TV, Ben was a devoted father to his four children. His ex-wife, Lisa Perry, with whom he shared his children, was a partner in the children’s ministry at his church, where he was raised in a strict religious environment. It was this deep, personal commitment to his family and his professional legacy that formed the core of his life, away from the sensationalism of the TLC cameras.

Ben Rathbun’s journey was a complex tapestry of faith, family, professional success, reality television fame, and, ultimately, a tragic fight against a terminal illness. His death in May 2025 brought a definitive and sad end to a life that had been under public scrutiny, leaving behind a legacy that spans from the boardroom to the small screen.

ben rathburn
ben rathburn

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