Dr. Ben Ross Burgoyne of Arlington and Lake Stevens was born June 5, 1917 in Youngstown, Alberta, Canada in a sod house on the prairie and passed away peacefully surrounded by family, at home in Lake Stevens, WA on July 14, 2018. Recognized as Dr. B to most, he was well known for his generosity, caring spirit and love for his patients and community.
His parents, mother Clara and dad Jim, were raised in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick. In moving from Alberta to British Columbia, Clara, Lloyd 6, Ben 4 and baby Frank rode in a train box car along with their milk cow. This enabled the boys to have fresh milk as they traveled and allowed Clara to sell milk to passengers along the way. His father was not able to travel with his family as he was busy with his logging company, providing railroad ties and poles to the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The family made a home in Valemont, BC. We were told at the museum there, that at first Valemont was named Burgoyne after Ben’s family.
The Burgoyne brothers were excellent students throughout their school years. At 19, Ben left Canada to attend Chiropractic & Naturopathic school in Portland, OR. World War II began, and Ben joined the US Army. He was told “the US needs doctors, so we will send you to medical school.” Ben married his first wife, Bernita McClure, in Newberg, OR while attending Reed College. As a surgeon he served in the MASH 8055 (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) in Korea. Later he served in a reserve unit of the US Army as a Captain.
In 1952 he was honorably discharged and moved to Arlington, WA where he set up his medical practice with Dr. Kessling. Dr. Kessling died and Ben’s practice doubled in size. Ben went back to his Alma Mater OHSU and brought his friend Norm Zook to Arlington as his partner. Later, Dr. Nebel, Dr. Huber, Ben and Dr. Zook built the Arlington Clinic next to the hospital. Ben was a family practice physician, surgeon, and an acting anesthesiologist. He delivered more than 2000 babies before the state took over documenting births. Dr. Burgoyne was one of the founders of Warm Beach Senior Community & Health Care Center. He served 30 years on the board of trustees for Seattle Pacific University. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha an honorary Medical Society for doctors. His mission work took him across the world: Haiti, South Africa and Guatemala. He and his partner, Dr. Zook, worked diligently to build and grow the Arlington Free Methodist Church. When his wife Bernita became ill he retired from his practice to care for her. Ben enjoyed flying, missions and volunteer work. He enjoyed his time in the sky so much that he built a Falco plane. After Bernita’s passing in 1994, he was introduced to a widow, LaWanda Goldthorpe, by a mutual friend who described them as “two peas in a pod”. After they married he moved to Lake Stevens, WA and they continued to travel and spread the Lord’s word for 23 years. Ben kept his medical license active, attending continuing education and meeting licensing requirements until he turned 99 years of age.
Ben was survived by his brothers, Lloyd, Frank and Dale and predeceased by Alan and Bud. He had three children with his wife Bernita, Bonnie Brann (Arnie), Beth Irby (Donald) and Brian Burgoyne. He gained another three with his marriage to LaWanda, June Goldthorpe, Jerrie Waltz and John Goldthorpe (Kathy). Grandchildren : Kristin Stendera( Jeremy), Kimberly Ward ( James), Courtney Irby( Todd Fuist), Erica Irby and Anneliese Irby. Great grandchildren: Taylor Stendera, Addison Stendera, Hayley Stendera, Rowan Fuist-Irby. Step grandchildren: Chris Maurer, Keri Lindsay, Shondora Waltz, Jennifer Shinn, Heather Schleipman, Sheree’ Lorimore , Justin Goldthorpe
We would like to thank doctors Dr. Budge Smith, Dr. Sanford Wright, Dr. Scott Fetty, Dr. George Moore, Hospice and Providence Home Health (Lee & Allison) who took calls in the night, stopped by the house and coordinated care. We would also like to thank our Arlington Free Methodist Bible Study Group, Pastors, friends, and neighbors who ran errands and drove Ben to appointments. And finally, his family members and caregivers (Ivy, Loraini, Raijeli & Vicki) who worked to keep Ben home until his passing.
A Celebration of Life will be held July 28, 2018 at 12:00 noon at Arlington Free Methodist Church, 730 Highland Dr, Arlington, WA 98223. Viewing will be at 10:00-11:00 a.m.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18