Benjamin left us peacefully, surrounded by family and song, at the age of 84. Benjamin was born on the family farm in the Huns Valley, Manitoba, near the villages of Eden and Polonia.
The things Ben learned in those early years growing up on the farm became the building blocks for his future.
At the age of 16, he hired on to the CPR Railroad, as a fireman on the "Loci", feeding coal to the steam engine. He always had a passion for anything mechanical. His first set of wheels was an old WW2 Harley Davidson motorcycle. He put those wheels in motion to impress the girls at the Winkler Theatre, where he would meet his future bride, Dorothy (nee Brunn). They married in 1953. Later, they made their way to Winnipeg, where Ben found a job doing appliance repair at Eaton's.
In 1967 they made the move to Calgary with their 3 children, where Ben's entrepreneurial spirit emerged, and he started his own business called Benny's Appliance. Ben worked hard during the week to grow his business, but always made the weekend focus on family time. Weekends were spent outdoors camping, exploring and always fishing.
His passion for fishing led him to Vancouver Island, first as a vacation, and later in 1972, Ben and Dorothy moved the family there to make it their home, and to fulfill a dream of building a fishing resort. The small town they chose was Bowser, BC, on the east side of Vancouver Island, and the resort became known as Shady Shores Resort. Ben's family hosted guests from all over the world from 1972 until the sale of the resort in 1984.
After this time, Ben and Dorothy were the owners of the SkyLite Motel in Parksville, BC, and as always, made changes and improvements to make it their own. They fit in holidays for exploring other parts of the world and family histories in Europe. They later sold the motel in 1990. Not to sit still for long, Ben put his sights onto another project- the construction of a new motel in Qualicum Beach, the Ocean Crest, completed in 1992, which they ran very successfully as owners until 2003.
Ben and Dorothy continued to reside in Qualicum Beach, and he enjoyed restoring his '47 Mercury Coupe and participated in many local mid-island car shows. Winter months were spent travelling into many parts of the US in their motorhome, congregating with friends around favourite spots along the Colorado River.
Ben was a Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-grandfather, and his family is his greatest legacy. He was a mentor to many, passing on his work ethic, his business savvy, and his entrepreneurial skills. Where actions spoke louder than words, he was a builder, a maker and a risk taker. A problem solver with the most generous heart. He will be extremely missed and loved dearly forever.
Ben leaves behind the love of his life, Dorothy, and three children; Mitch (Judy), Karen (Jim) and David (Debra). Ben was Grandpa to seven Grandchildren and Grandpa Ben to 12 Great-grandchildren. He was also Uncle Benny to many nieces and nephews. Ben is also survived by one sister, Stella, who still resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Ben was predeceased by his parents, five brothers and two sisters. Ben was also predeceased by his fist Grandson and namesake, Benjamin.
Our Family would like to extend our appreciation to the second floor staff at the Comox Valley Seniors' Village for the loving care he received during the last two and a half years. We would also like to extend our appreciation to the third floor unit B staff at the Comox Valley Hospital for their care, compassion and all their efforts to make Ben as comfortable as possible.
Prayers will be said in honour of Ben at the Catholic Church Mass held at the Comox Valley Seniors Village on March 12, 2020.
A private Celebration of Life will be held in the spring.
Piercy's Mt. Washington Funeral Home