Mr. Fredrick James Bennett passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in Mesa, Arizona, at the age of 91 years.

Fred was born on March 10, 1926 in Sherwood, Oregon to Harold and Ada Bennett. He graduated from Vermilion Agricultural School in 1947. He married Elizabeth Hildebrandt of Wymark, Saskatchewan, in 1957 and had 4 children. Fred and his parents moved to the homestead in east Peoria, Alberta, in 1931. In 1937, they moved to the current homestead in west Peoria where his sons James and Charles continue to farm. Fred eventually retired from farming in 1990 and retired to the Mesa area until his passing.

Fred was a very accomplished farmer and was one of the first farmers in the area to start using fertilizers, spray crops, and grow rapeseed. Fred was very precise in everything he did and it showed throughout his life. Every job or activity he tackled was done to perfection. He was known in the farming community for having the straightest seeding rows and this was long before GPS technology.

One of his passions was travelling and RVing which he did up until a few years ago. Fred and Elizabeth spent many enjoyable times travelling, first in a truck and camper and later in a motorhome, all over the U.S. and Western Canada. One of their favorite vacation spots was Tortilla Flat in Arizona. After Elizabeth's passing, Fred continued to visit this area many times over the years. His passion for RVing continued throughout his second marriage to his wife Marjorie with many trips including several summers spent on the Oregon and Washington coasts. Marjorie introduced Fred to deep sea fishing during these summers which he loved and they had several friends and family visit them there to fish.

When in Peoria, he loved to fly his Cessna 172, taking up friends and neighbors for flights. He was a member of the Alberta Flying Farmers Association.

Fred will be sadly missed by his daughters: Shirley (Rob) Hessler, and Nancy (Andrew) Allison; sons: James (Lourdes Salido) Bennett, and Charles Bennett; as well as sister Alice Fortier. Fred is also survived by 6 step-children, 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren, numerous brothers and sisters in-law in Saskatchewan, and many nieces and nephews. He will also be sadly missed by his lifetime friends: Danny Somerville of Sexsmith, AB, and Stan Sather of Wanham, AB; his many friends both in Alberta and Arizona, and "The Gang" in the Mesa area.

He was predeceased by his parents Harold and Ada Bennett; his beloved first wife Elizabeth (Hildebrandt); his beloved second wife Marjorie (Fisher), as well as numerous in-laws.

Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at "Mama Care Assisted Living Home" as well as "Hospice at Home" in Mesa, AZ. for their care and dedication to Fred in his last weeks of his life.