Obituaries

BENTLEY, Burton James

Burton James Bentley passed away on Feb 27, 2018 at Springvalley Care Home at the age of 90 years old.

Born April 28th 1927, in Peace River Alberta.

Burt will be lovingly remembered by his sons, Cleveland, Sheldon Bentley, Gloria Gallotan (closest family friend) and Fe Sanguila, (mother of Cleveland and Sheldon Bentley.)

Burton was a hardworking, stubborn, hard-nosed man that cared for his loved ones to the end of his life.

As the head supervisor at the lumber mill in Salmon Arm, Burton would always see the value in people and would hire those willing to put the effort into work despite prejudice views during those times. Even though he was long retired, when living in the Shuswap he volunteered at the Squilax firehall often maintaining the fire truck, starting test fires for the crews and building inside the firehall.

Fishing, camping, traveling and logging were his greatest past times. He could never sit still, always wanting to work and go out and experience life to the fullest.

You would always hear how much he loved his two boys Sheldon and Cleveland Bentley and his pride and joy was always expressed thru his sons.

The endless trips to Tacoma Seattle to visit family, taking his sons to the zoo to camping trips to Pinaus lake to catch Perch, digging our own worms from the soil and chopping our own wood. He made everyone feel safe no matter where his family adventured.

In the early 2000s, living in Vernon B.C. while ice skating he broke his wrist attempting to pick his son up off the ice and falling on his own hand. While driving to the hospital himself he always found a way to make humor of the situation. Pointing in the wrong directions with a mangled wrist was quite humorous to him and maybe others.

2007 and onwards he lived in Kelowna in an attempt to be closer to his sons. The drive to experience the great things in life never stopped, accepting his sons new friends as family and taking them on many many trips. He always was ready to volunteer and help those in need, whether it be helping people learn how to drive or to stay on the phone with tech support to fix things around the house he was not familliar with. All the little things, driving to the summit of the Coquihalla because we had no a/c in the summer to cool off and drive back the morning after. Last minute camping trips to Pinause due to boredom. The adventure never ended.

Fixing cars with his sons even though it would take days and sometimes weeks but, his patient yet stubborn personality is what made him great.

Burt always saw comedy in even the most serious of situations but he would also put his foot down if needed. Telling a person to fall once more to get a laugh or slapping someone upside the head to make a point.

He will be greatly missed by those he has touched throughout his life.

Cremation arrangements entrusted to Everden Rust Funeral Services Kelowna.

Condolence Messages

Apr 26, 2018
Condolences to my loving nephew. I am shocked in accepting this happened. Your dad he have good heart to be my brother-in-law. I appreciated his kindness he showed our family. We miss you bro. We know your are such good men.

Condolences from your sister-in-law from Saudi Arabia.
Mar 14, 2018
Condolences to you Cleveland and Sheldon, I known Burt all my life, he was a good uncle. I remember as little kids hanging out at the pool, he come out and visited my dad Lester. He a had a good life. Always talked about the history of the Bentley family and their place at Magna Bay.

I'm grateful and blessed, Dawn Bentleys
Mar 07, 2018
Our deepest sympathy to the family.

Maryann and family
Mar 07, 2018
My deepest sympathy to the family Burton was a lovely person, I knew him at Apple Valley. Marie Jeanne Mclellan
Mar 07, 2018
What a wonderful tribute to this gentleman and father. I only knew him for a short time but I did see his dancing eyes when chatting with him. It was so nice to see the appreciation the family had for their father. He had a good life and my thoughts are with you and your family, Cleveland.

Doug Watson