Version 6.01

03 March 2021

David March © 2014

Photos courtesy of Vivien Smith (wife)

Born Sept. 4, 1919 - Died Sept. 23, 1999.

Ben was born in the Sudbury district, in Ontario. His mother died when he was 4 years old. The family broke up, and his father took the youngest sister, Eunice, out west to live with his sister Ethel and brother-in-law, Wm Hurley. (see entry for Doris Hurley) Ben was sent out west, alone from Sudbury, and spent his 8th birthday on the train where he entertained the passengers with his singing and dancing up and down the aisles. His uncle picked him up in Saskatoon, and they drove by horse and buggy to Delisle. In 1933 times were bad so they packed up lock, stock and barrel and moved to a farm north of Shellbrook, south of the Van Eaton’s.

He loved to play the guitar, sing and yodel, and played in an orchestra. They entertained at weddings and Saturday night dances in the district. At 21 he went east and worked in the mines for a while before volunteering for the Royal Canadian Army. He spent four and a half years overseas with the Canadian Signal Corps Special Services Division. (Taking his guitar with him.)

In 1946 he was discharged and went to Regina and stayed with his Uncle Joe and Aunt Gertie Smith. Uncle Joe had a construction company. That year he also married Vivien Perkins. He stayed in construction, and in 1966 he and his family moved to Saskatoon, where he worked for Federated Coop in the position of Superintendent of Retail Development. He retired in 1982.

Ben and Vivien had three children, daughter Leanne (Dennis Irving, Regina), son Brian (Leanna Smith, Calgary, Alta), and son Gary (Gloria Smith, Surrey, BC). He had 6 grandchildren.

In his retirement he was involved with the church and was an elder and greeter, and sang in the seniors choir. He was an avid reader and an armchair sportsman, master craftsman and mister fix-it and always had a project on the go. Ben loved to fish and he passed that love on to his grandsons. He always had a joke to tell.

He came from a family of 8 children that were scattered from the east to the west. When he retired, Ben and Vivien traveled across the country to meet his siblings.

Informant: Vivien Smith (wife and children and grandchildren) by email 30/4/10

BEN SMITH

B40254