Benjamin "Ben" Neufeld

Ben is survived by his wife Lillian (Wilson) Neufeld married for 31 years, daughters Linda Neufeld and Marjorie (Richard) McCue of Didsbury, sons Jerry (Charlene) and Lyle Neufeld of Abbotsford; Step-son, Bill (Annelis) Wilson of North Vancouver and step-daughters Terry Wilson of Vancouver and Sherry Wilson McEwen of Calgary. Grandchildren Elise (James) Davenport, Ben (Trish) Neufeld, Tim (Amber) Neufeld and Joel (Meghan) Neufeld, granddaughters Alina and Carmen Wilson. Great grandchildren Sam, Jake, Lenae and Annika Davenport, Addison, Emery, Meeka, Asher, AJ, Eva and Brinley Neufeld. Brothers Frank (Susie), Erdman, Dave (Martha), John (Selma), Rueben (Edna), Leonard (Ann) and sister Esther (Alex) Christensen. Brothers-in-law Aaron (Lydia) Derksen and David (Sara) Derksen, sisters-in-law Sarah (Harvey) Neufeld, Ordina Erickson, and Arlene Simpson, plus many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; C.A. and Margaretha Neufeld, first wife Olga (Derksen) Neufeld, great grandson Ryker Neufeld, brother Henry, sister Frieda, brothers-in-law Andrew Derksen, Henry Bartsch and Abe Martens, sisters-in-law Edna Neufeld and Ellen Neufeld, and step son-in-law Alec McEwen.

Ben became a Christian at a young age and later attended Menno Bible Institute in Didsbury, Alberta. He was a Biblical Scholar, youth leader, led many Bible studies and prayer meetings. He was part of the founding group of the North Hill Mennonite Mission which later became Foothills Mennonite Church in Calgary. He became a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church in Didsbury.

He loved sports; he was the pitcher for the school, family and church baseball teams, he loved hockey, swimming, crokinole, horseshoes and his favourite Major League Baseball Team was the Toronto Blue Jays. He loved camping, holiday trips to BC, Manitoba, Seattle, and made numerous trips to LaCrete, AB. Ben also traveled through many USA States, Israel and Switzerland and lived in Hawaii working with Youth with a Mission with Lillian where he helped in the construction of the YWAM University. He participated in many activities at Tabor Court over the 5 years that he lived there. He was a passionate member of the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church and a loved resident of Tabor Court Seniors Residence. Ben made many friends at Tabor Court and participated in various activities with gusto. Ben lived a simple life. He valued his family and relationships with other people.

Ben's schooling was to grade 8 at Bergthal and Siebertville schools in Didsbury while also helping area farmers. After finishing school and while going to Bible School he worked at the Neapolis Cheese factory and for other farmers in the east country. In Brisco, BC he worked at a saw mill with cousin Dave Neufeld and future brother-in-law Andrew Derksen for a number of years before marrying Olga Derksen and then working there for a couple more after that. Ben was a proud master carpenter for 45 years, building mostly houses, 2 homes which were for his family in Calgary, and helped many others to build theirs.

In 1962 Ben and Olga took out a homestead in LaCrete, AB wanting to start farming. The land had to be cleared which went on for several years. In 1968 when the opportunity to buy the homestead in Didsbury came available, the land in LaCrete was sold. At the homestead, he farmed and did carpentry, building granaries, farm buildings and other construction.

Ben was always up and positive even in the midst of adversity, sickness and difficulty. He rarely complained. A man of faith who always gave God glory; his eyes to heaven, awaiting the rapture of the church, never backing down in his faith that the Lord's return was near. He was a true example of keeping our heavenly destination at the front and centre of his faith. He was filled with the Holy Spirit in the late '70's and his Christian walk really became alive, full of joy and power. He was always humming a tune of some sort! I can't remember when he didn't. Ben loved listening to the Gathiers and other gospel music. His favourite song was "Jesus loves me this I know." Ben loved his time in Hawaii with Lillian serving with Youth with a Mission to help build the YWAM University.

Family meals and devotions as we were growing up were priority; sometimes the school bus would be coming down the lane or even in front of the house, but it had to wait until he was finished with the Bible reading or prayer! He loved praying for physical healing. In Hawaii he prayed for a man who had knee problems and couldn't kneel down. Dad prayed for him in faith and the man was healed, all pain left and he was able to move and kneel without any more pain. When Ben was in the hospital following open heart surgery, he prayed for the pain to stop and was able to go off pain killers within two days. Years later when he was in the hospital for 50 days, he would go around the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit ministering to the sick on his ward. He was a deeply spiritual man.

In the 1990s after his retirement, he did a tremendous amount of renovation on his step-daughter Terry’s place, as well as his stepson Bill’s. Bill recalls with admiration how Ben could pound a 3-1/2” spike in overhead with little effort. He cut arched windows for Terry’s apartment freehand with a skill saw. Bill says he learned a lot about patience from Ben, as he never became frustrated by problems, he just puzzled them out.

When Ben and Lil stayed with Bill and Annelis Wilson, he often cooked oatmeal (his favourite breakfast) for granddaughters Alina and Carmen and in true Grandpa fashion would finish their meals when they failed to do so.

Ben and Lillian met and married in Abbotsford, living in Penticton, Summerland, and Oliver. Lillian and Ben were great walkers and walked miles when they lived in Summerland. They also took part in a variety of Christian group get-togethers and events. In the early 2000’s they visited Sherry and her husband Alec in Calgary for a few days and saw the sites. Sherry recalls Ben telling her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye as a teenager he decided to borrow the neighbours’ horse (without their knowing)—and although he’d never ridden before, saddled the horse up and went for a ride!

Lillian says they had a “wonderful marriage and enjoyed each others’ company.”

Ben will be laid to rest on Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at Bergthal Mennonite Cemetery followed by a Celebration of Life Service at Bergthal Mennonite Church in Didsbury, AB at 2:00 pm.

His life will be celebrated in the Tabor Court Chapel at 31954 Sunrise Crescent, Abbotsford, BC on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 2:00 pm.

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Funeral Home, Abbotsford

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