We Remember
Bentley, Donald
August 24, 1937 — January 13, 2012
Passed away peacefully January 13th 2012 at Central Okanagan Hospice House in Kelowna, BC.
Don was born in Edmonton, the son of Jim and Marion Bentley on August 24th 1937. After receiving his B.Sc. in Edmonton, Don trained as a meteorologist with the Department of Transport. He was stationed as a weather forecaster in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Whitehorse and Edmonton. Later, he was posted in Germany and the US, where he served as an officer with the Canadian Air Force.
When Don retired from Environment Canada in 1980, he married Angela and returned to farming in the Edmonton area. In 1997, they would further enjoy retirement with a move to Kelowna, BC. Don embraced life as it presented itself, sharing his passion with airplanes and a lifelong love of flying. He didn’t just have dreams, he lived them.
Don is predeceased by his parents and will be dearly missed by his wife Angela and her three sons: Bobbie (Pamela) of Guelph, Ontario, Jim and Clark Seeber of Edmonton and brothers-in-law: Klaus Langbein (Kati) and Uwe Geyer (Uta) of Germany. He also leaves behind three sisters: Linda (John Chalmers) and Ila (David Scott) of Edmonton, and Merle (Ken Kew) of Florida as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Don’s life will be held at St. Paul’s United, 3131 Lakeshore Rd., Kelowna, Friday, January 20th at 1:00 pm.
The family would like to take this opportunity to recognize the loving care of Dr. Livingston and the staff of Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Central Okanagan Hospice House, 2035 Ethel Street, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 2Z6, or to a charity of one’s choice.
A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta, on a date to be announced later.
Service
Updated Service Information Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Location
Namao Community Hall
Share with Others:
Central Okanagan Hospice House, 2035 Ethel Street, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 2Z6, or to a charity of one’s choice.
Service Information
Service Details
The service for Bentley, Donald is scheduled for Updated Service Information Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 1:00 pm . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Namao Community Hall
2440 Highway 37 Namao, AB
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
Our sincere condolences to Angie and Don’s family. We have many warm memories from our time with Don, mainly overseas.
Later in the 1990s we were welcomed by Don and Angie at their farm near Edmonton. There I learned much about farming in the West, all new for we city-raised Easterners.
Once again, Don and I renewed our friendship in 2008 at the time of the Kelowna CMOS Congress where he was kind enough to meet me at the airport and later share a beer at the Yacht Club.
We have many photos of Don; I will share this one now – which was taken at a reunion of meteorological folks who served in Europe. This photo shows some of us who were in Lahr in 1969-1970. Don is seen, front and centre.
Please extend my sincere condolences to Angie and Don’s family. I do have fond, fond memories of Don.
This message is for Linda Chalmers:
Dear Linda
You and I met last year when our dear mutual friend Diane Draffin shared a few weeks of sun, bridge, lunches in Mexico.
I was so sorry to hear of your brother Donald’s spiralling end to his life’s journey…such a traumatice ending for you, for one of the longest relationships you have had in your life…of course I don’t know the highs and lows of that for you, but the important thing is they have left an indelible colour on your life…I wish for you that the memories are rainbows…and will bring to mind moments of joy and laughter too.Sincerely Sheila Taylor
Angela and family.
Our sincerest condolences,
we sure will miss Don’s humour and wit at he hockey games. We was a delight to talk too. We do hope you will return to the games later. I know it will be difficult, but one has to continue living.
Lorraine and Guy
I met Don in 1961 when we were on the Met course of 1961-62. Being a small group we got to know each other pretty well. My sincere condolences to all his family. I will never forget him.
Angie, we are thinking of you and your family on this most difficult day. I often think of our lunches at your house by the Max. You and Don were the best hosts. I was so amazed to know someone who could actually build an airplane…at home! Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love Lynne & Chuck Stipchick
I worked with Don in Europe and in Edmonton and parked my small travel trailer on his farm. My wife, Lise, and I wish Angie and Don’s family condolences at the passing of Don.
A last writing for Don,
we are sure where ever you are language is unimportant, so we feel free to write this words in our native language.
Einen letzten Gruß an Dich lieber Don,
es war eine Freude, dass wir Dich kennen lernen durften. Wir haben oft an Dich gedacht auch in Deiner schweren Zeit, leider ist die Entfernung zu groß gewesen, so dass wir Dir nicht beistehen konnten.
Es war schön, dass wir mit Dir fliegen, lachen, essen, trinken, ja eine kleine Zeit zusammen verbringen durften. Viele Erinnerungen und Bilder haben wir im Kopf und auf Papier, wir werden Dich nicht vergessen, doch ein Loch wird bleiben und nicht zu ersetzen sein.
Du wirst uns fehlen:
Kathrin, Fabian und Dirk Langbein
Liebe Tante Angelika,
wir denken natürlich auch viel an Dich. Wir hoffen es geht Dir gut, wir fühlen mit Dir und Worte reichen nicht an die Gefühle heran die wir empfinden. Wir wünschen Dir natürlich nur das Beste. Unser tief Empfundenes Beileid.
In Liebe
Kathrin, Fabian und Dirk
Angie we were just talking about you and don the other day. We were so sorry to read of your loss. we still think of you and live back at the river by your house. Your friends at the Fort Saskatchewan fertilizer dealership