Herbert Allan Bennett was born in a small
log cabin a short distance from Highway 6 near Demmitt, Alberta on June 18th, 1931, with the assistance of a neighbour, Emma Sipe and his father, Elmer. In Dec. of that year, he moved with his parents and older sister to the Two Rivers District, east of Fort St. John, BC where he grew up, farmed, married and raised a family. In the winter months he worked in the “Oil Patch”, doing all jobs associated with the
industry. In 2001 he “retired” to Oliver so he could fulfill a long time dream of having an orchard, vineyard & garden. While there he
explored the mountains surrounding the Valley and gathered truck-load after truck-load of firewood for family, friends and neighbours. When he had a chance to take part in Clinical Trials at the Sandi Ahlwalla Hawkins Cancer Clinic in Kelowna, in 2010, he relocated to the McLeod
Subdivision, Spallumcheen, BC.
Herb died of prostate induced bone cancer on August 15th, 2013. When he was diagnosed in 1999, he was beyond a cure, there were only some treatments and many trials to help prolong his life. He spent his years with cancer spreading the message of regular screening for the early detection of the disease, thus saving numerous lives. He also continued to live his life as he always had: being a hunter, camper, hiker, fisher and his favourite, a back pack hunting guide in the Yukon and NWT’s. When at home he tended his fruit trees, vines, garden and created landscaping works of art. Herb will always be remembered by all who knew or even met him for his ability to tell a story (or two) like no other. He had lived well and had so much to tell.
His presence will be sorely missed by those who loved him most: his wife, Maxine, his son Allan (Elsie); his daughters, Lynda (Joe) and Lorene (Gord); his grand-daughter, Tora, his grandsons, Calvin (Paul), Clinton; Deon; and Danny (Kayla); his brothers, Gordon (Lynne),
Arnold (Nelda) and Cliff (Sharon); and his favourite Buddy, his Martin guitar.
He was predeceased by his son, Ricky; father, Elmer; mother, Frances and his sisters, Agnes and Irene.
In the summer of 2014, in Fort St. John, there will be a gathering of
family and friends to remember and celebrate Herb’s life in a
manner that will do him proud, telling stories and hopefully playing a
few country songs on his beloved Martin. His remains will be buried with those of Ricky’s in the Fort St. John Cemetery at that time.