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Benjamin “Ben” Redekop, age 89, passed away peacefully after a brief illness and went to be with his Lord on Friday, February 18, 2022 at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current, SK.
Ben was born August 29, 1932 on the family farm near Main Centre, SK to Frank & Katherina “Tina” Redekop. He attended Los Angeles School SE of the family farm. Ben committed his life to Christ as a young schoolboy in the MB Auditorium in Herbert, SK at an evangelistic meeting and prayed for assurance at other ones. He attended the Herbert Bible School for three years followed by Winnipeg MB College for one year, where he majored in Bible and Music.
Ben had a passion for music, singing in choirs, leading singing in church, and singing solos. He became a member of the Herbert MB Church and along with his involvement in music, he was Sunday School Superintendent for many years.
Ben lived on the family farm following his college years and ran a mixed farming operation there. He owned a six-foot-wide combine with his brother, Albert, and remembered harrowing with horses and to quote him, “less than a hundred.” When he could, he loved to play ball and was known to be a great fielder who could whistle the ball to the back catcher when he wasn’t playing back catcher himself.
He first met Alice Stobbe at a choir practice at the Herbert MB Church with Adeline Wiebe. On June 16, 1962, Ben married Alice, the love of his life, at Central MB Church in Saskatoon, SK. They welcomed their first child, Darlene, on May 23, 1963 and Wesley followed soon after on December 17, 1964. They raised their family on the farm and had many wonderful and happy years. Along with grain farming, they milked cows, raised cattle, hogs, and chickens.
Haying season was a passion for Ben and he included all his family in this. Shortly after the haying was completed, his children would wake up one morning and were told they were going to British Columbia. This pattern repeated itself every year. As a family, they would head off to Fairmont Hot Springs for a few days and then proceed to Creston to pick up fresh fruit. Once home, the pie making and canning would start. Some years they went more than once to take advantage of different fruits. Ben loved Alice’s pies.
Other family vacations included South Dakota, Leaf Rapids, Abbotsford, Montana, and a bus tour to California. In later years, Ben & Alice travelled to the Maritimes, Alaska, Cuba, and Arizona. Ben’s favorite place to go in the last few years was Manitou Springs. They would get up and go at a moment’s notice to soak in the pools there. Ben loved to visit. Ben & Alice loved their family dearly and spent as much time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as they could. They travelled up to Killam where Kevin & Darlene and their family lived, as well as spent time at the Herbert Regional Park with Wes & Kim and their family right up to July 2021.
Ben was passionate about farming until the day he died. He would drive out to the farm almost every day, hauled grain late last fall, picked up parts in Swift Current, and was always on the field where the action was – especially in spring and harvest time. He will be dearly missed by Wes and his family this coming farming season, as well as by Darlene and her family with the daily phone call updates and facetiming.
Ben’s faith was most important to him and he prayed daily for all his family to follow Jesus and someday be with him in heaven with his Saviour.
Left to cherish his love and memories are his wife of almost 60 years, Alice Redekop; his children, Darlene (Kevin) Sorenson and Wes (Kim) Redekop; his grandchildren, Kristen (Matt) Schmidt, Ryan Sorenson (Angel Qi), Nerissa (Braydan) Holfeld, Chelsea (Dorian) Siever, Miranda (Dylan) Gerbrandt, and Devon Redekop (Kassidy Roh); his great-grandchildren, Kaden Schmidt, Lucas Schmidt, Alyssa Holfeld, Cruze Holfeld, Stefan Holfeld, Emmitt Holfeld, Miles Holfeld, and Finn Siever; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Arnold (Helena) Stobbe, Margaret Munro, Millie Logan, Ed Stobbe, and Gilbert (Adeline) Berg; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
Ben was predeceased by his granddaughter, Desirae Redekop; his parents, Frank & Tina Redekop; his siblings and their spouses, John (Mary) Redekop, Albert (Henrietta Friesen) Redekop, Jake (Agnes) Redekop, Henry (Anne) Redekop, and Corny Redekop; his parents-in-law, Jake & Agnes Stobbe; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Henry (Anne) Bargen, John Stobbe, and Selma Stobbe; and by several nephews and nieces.
The Funeral Service for Ben Redekop was held on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm from Grace Community Church, Herbert, SK with Pastor Nick Kimpinski and Pastor Bob Capelle officiating. “The Love of God,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “Amazing Grace” were sung by the congregation, with Darlene Sorenson serving as pianist. Special music was brought by Ben’s great-grandchildren who sang “Jesus Loves Me,” and by the Southland Colony. The eulogy was given by Ben’s children, Darlene Sorenson and Wes Redekop. Tributes were given by Ben’s grandchildren. The ushers in the church were Al Braun, Al Jahnke, and Ken Mathies. The service was recorded and can be viewed here.
The Private Family Interment Service was held prior to the Funeral Service from the Herbert Cemetery, Herbert, SK with Ben’s grandsons, Devon Redekop, Braydan Hofeld, Dylan Gerbrandt, Dorian Siever, Ryan Sorenson, and Matthew Schmidt serving as Pallbearers. In memory of Ben Redekop, donations made to the Cube Youth Ministry Centre, Westbank Bible Camp, and Rock Solid Refuge would be appreciated by the family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ben Redekop, please visit our floral store.
West Bank Bible Camp
Box 1841, Swift Current SK S9H 4M6
Tel: 1-306-773-6815
Email: wbbcamp@gmail.com
Web: http://www.westbankbiblecamp.com/
Rock Solid Refuge
Box 1622, Shaunavon, SK, S0N 2M0,
Tel: (306) 297-3663
Web: rocksolidrefuge.com/
The Cube Youth Ministry
479 Annable St., Herbert SK S0H 2A0