Bernard "Ben" Emil Kading

On March 6th, 2023, Ben passed away at Riverview Care Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, at the age of 92. Ben’s devoted wife of 67 years, Pat, was asleep in the room with him when he took his last breath. Ben was born in the spring of 1930 in Scapa, Alberta. He was the first child of the young farming couple William and Katherine Kading.  As a small boy, Ben and his parents spoke German at home. After starting school and learning to speak English, Ben was able to help his parents learn English. Younger brother Ervine was born in 1942.  Ben worked in the oilfields and later joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). While in the RCAF and stationed at Cold Lake, Alberta, he met his future wife, Miss Patricia McGowan, a young teacher who had grown up on a farm outside Paddockwood, Saskatchewan. They married in July of 1956. Ben and Pat’s family grew to include three children, and together the five of them travelled and lived in many communities in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, following Ben in his work, often with Transport Canada. After retiring from the Canadian government, Ben and his family settled in Lethbridge, Alberta. There he worked for the City of Lethbridge. When not working Ben and Pat liked to take the family camping. After retirement Ben and Pat travelled to Germany, the Caribbean and Central America. Ben always enjoyed a good book, a good meal, and a good chat. In 2016 Ben and Pat moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta to be closer to family.

Ben’s legacy is his three children: Brenda, Terry, and Lianne. By providing a stable homelife, encouragement and support, Ben and Pat took quiet pride in the roles they were able to play in the accomplishments of their children. Brenda earned a degree in Mathematics and another in Pharmacy. She recently retired from a long career as a pharmacist and celebrated her 43rd wedding anniversary to husband Gordan Aisman. They make their home in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. They have two children, Richard and Ruth. Richard lives in Alberta. Ruth is married to Deric Cole and they have a son, Everett. They live in Oregon, USA.

Terry earned a Ph.D. in Political Science. He and his wife Keely McKibben live in Kamloops, B.C. where Terry is a professor at Thompson Rivers University. They have been married 30 years.

Lianne earned a degree in Philosophy and later became a Power Engineer. She teaches Power Engineering at Medicine Hat College. Lianne took on the greater family role of caregiver for Ben and Pat after their move to Medicine Hat. The family will always be grateful and in her debt.

Ben also leaves behind his brother Ervine Kading of Tofield, Alberta, and his sister-in-law Ruth (Larry) Fawcett (nee McGowan) in British Columbia.  He will be remembered by his Kading, Kirychuk, McGowan, and Battersby nieces and nephews, as well as many friends.

No formal service will be held at this time. Donations in Ben’s memory may be made to AJ’s Loan Cupboard, a local Medicine Hat charity that provides medical equipment and supplies free of charge, at Box 45006 Mackenzie Drugs Outlet Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0B1.  

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