Ada Clare Bentley (nee Lamont)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ada Clare Bentley, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, at the age of 87, on April 24, 2021.
Ada is predeceased by her husband, Harvey Bentley, and will be greatly missed by her surviving sister Eileen Abrams, her children and respective spouses Dan & Cindy, Pat & Brian, Keith & Patti, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends.
Born July 16, 1933, in Red Deer, Alberta, Ada spent her early years on the prairies before moving to the lower mainland and graduating from Maple Ridge High School in Haney, BC. Immediately after graduation, Ada joined the Canadian Airforce in 1951 to become a radar technician.
Ada and Harvey exchanged many letters back and forth while she was stationed in Trenton, Ontario, and then Bagotville, Quebec. She learned how to be a radar technician while in the Airforce and was often engaged in teaching others those same skills as she was a quick learner and extremely good at instructing others. She greatly enjoyed her time in the Airforce and had fond memories of the friends she made while there.
In 1954, Ada sought discharge from the Airforce so she and Harvey could get married. They married on July 16, 1954. Throughout her life, Ada was her husband’s willing partner as they moved from logging to ranching to grain farming and on to commercial fishing, while also pursuing her own interests and hobbies. The independence and thirst for knowledge she displayed while in the Airforce made her a force to be reckoned with. Ada never complained, faced every challenge with courage, sass, and wit, and exhibited a quiet strength that made her easy to talk to.
After marriage, Ada and Harvey lived on the Bentley family-run logging camp on Frederick’s Arm where Ada learned to cook for the camp. A favourite story of Harvey’s is when Ada was at the camp and getting a little tired of not just the cooking, but the cleanup afterwards, she complained about doing the dishes. He said “Just throw them out the window. That will take care of cleanup.” After the dinner, as Harvey was walking past the kitchen window, the dishes started flying past him. That certainly took care of cleanup in record time!
It was at the camp that Harvey and Ada started their family. When it was time for the children to attend school, they moved the family to Quadra Island while Harvey continued to travel by seaplane and boat to and from the logging camp. It was during this period that Ada and Harvey decided it was time to try something new with their young family.
Harvey and Ada sold the logging camp and decided to move the family to the interior. They had visited during their honeymoon road trip and really liked the area, so it was their first choice when deciding where to put down new roots.
They bought the Connor Cattle Ranch just outside of Heffley Creek and remained there for many years. Ada was a busy partner in the ranching life. She and Harvey hosted many meetings of the 4-H cattle club, and they were also involved with other community volunteering. She was always willing to lend a hand and kept everyone well-fed while doing so. Her chocolate cake was YUMMY, split pea soup was EXCELLENT, and her cinnamon buns were OUT OF THIS WORLD.
The family relocated to Ohaton, Alberta, to take a turn at grain farming. After a few years in Alberta, Harvey and Ada semi-retired and moved back to their place near Heffley, as Ada was missing the area. Harvey built a house on their land on the spot that Ada picked for the wonderful panoramic view.
It wasn’t too long before Ada and Harvey decided they would embark on a new adventure and became commercial fishermen. They spent their time fishing for salmon up and down the west coast and meeting up with their friends on the water when they could. Ada was involved in all tasks and chores of commercial fishing and was always willing to fix the radar when Harvey couldn’t. Even though they both loved being on the water and fishing, they eventually decided that it was time for a full retirement.
Through the years Ada and Harvey took time out from work to travel. They loved exploring and travelled from the west coast to the east coast of North America, Tuktoyaktuk, Canada, in the north to Caracas, Venezuela, and everywhere in between.
Ada was involved in community volunteer work, was an active member in a quilting club, and a member of the WI. Through the years she created many quilts and helped care for her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and was particularly fond of a good murder mystery. Ada also enjoyed music. She often attended concerts by the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra with her sister Isabelle, and she also liked to listen to her favourite artists Anne Murray, The Irish Rovers, and K.D. Lang.
After retirement, Ada and Harvey spent many enjoyable years on their ranch with their children and grandchildren often visiting. There are many great stories of visits with Momma and Papa through the years. Once family left, things would return to the normal unhurried pace of everyday life. Ada never tired of looking out through the large picture windows, enjoying the scenic landscape and wildlife, and particularly loved watching the hummingbirds in the summer.
Ada is predeceased by her husband, Harvey; her parents, Sarah and John Lamont; her siblings Ethel Lamont, Isabel Cameron, Olive Flegal, Sadie Berquist, and John Lamont.
Ada will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but we will cherish the many memories we have as she will constantly be in our thoughts.
If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions can be made to the Kamloops Hospice Association.
Offer Condolence for the family of Ada Clare Bentley 1933 – 2021
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ada Clare Bentley 1933 –..
Death notice for the town of: Kamloops, Province: Colombie britanique