CLEVELAND BENNETT
Sept. 13th, 1920 – Jan. 17th, 2015

Cleveland Bennett formerly of Chamberlain, SK has gone to his heavenly home and is joined in his passing to his wife of sixty five years, Doris who predeceased him three months previous.  Also predeceasing Cleve are his parents, Mary and J.C. Bennett, brother, Jim (Viola) Bennett, sister Opal (Ed) Harris and sister-in-law Hilda Bennett in addition to Rae Bennett, wife of his grandson John and a nephew Doug Bennett.  Cleve will be greatly missed for his wise words, stories and insights by his daughter Elaine Bennett Fox; son, Lyle (Kathy) Bennett, and daughter, Nola (Darren) Shatkowski; grandchildren Autumn, Carman (Diana Buckingham), Doyle, Alexandra Fox (Andrew Kuzma), John Bennett (Rhonda Christison), Dennis (Dawn) Bennett, Melanie (Kevin) Pare, Matthew (Amanda) Waters, Daphne and Dawson Shatkowski; great grandchildren: Dean, Haley and Taylor Bennett, Kayla, Chelsie and Riley Christison, Blair and Bek Bennett, Julia and Lilah Pare and Madilyn Waters; brother Bill Bennett; sister-in-law, Pat Munroe; as well as many nieces and nephews.  Cleve was the oldest child in the family and was born at the George Reynoldson farm (Sec. 4-22-26 W of 2nd) outside of Chamberlain.  He attended school in Chamberlain and finished high school in Craik.  In 1937, Cleve joined his father in operating Bennett’s Garage and Truck Transport.  In his youth Cleve played ball and hockey in the Sarnia Dufferin leagues.  Bennett’s Garage had a hall above it and Cleve planned the Saturday Night Dances.  In 1940, Cleve enlisted with the RCAF and was stationed in Toronto, Trenton and Calgary followed by a posting to the Sixth Group Command in Yorkshire England.  He was stationed at Topciffe, Skipton and Leaming Bar and finishing at London H.Q. at Lincoln’s Inn Field attached to the transport section.  Following his arriving home in January 1946, he found the Garage had burned down in 1942 and set to work to rebuild it.  It was a time of many opportunities and Cleve took advantage, working in trucking, in the Garage and farming.  Marriage and family followed.  Always civic minded, he lent his skills and knowledge to the Chamberlain Telephone Company and Chamberlain Village Council.  During his term in office, he was instrumental in having electric street lights installed.  In 1959, Cleve and Doris had the privilege to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.  During this time, Cleve acted as secretary-treasurer for the project of building the curling rink.  Cleve has taken an active part on the Chamberlain United Church Board and was accepted into the Masonic Lodge at Craik.  In 1970, he joined the Shriners of the Wa Wa Temple.  Cleve also was a member of the Canadian Legion when it was formed in Chamberlain.  As the businesses grew so did the family.  Life was good and Cleve and Doris took annual holidays to Hawaii.  Lyle joined the business in 1974 taking a keen interest in the garage and the farm.  Cleve left an amazing legacy of a life well lived and was immensely loved.  He was a loving and caring husband, amazing and wise father and a good and honourable man.  A Service of Remembrance to celebrate Cleve’s life will be held on Thursday January 22nd, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Moose Jaw Funeral Home.  Rev. Doug Hallman will officiate and interment will take place in the Chamberlain Cemetery at a later date.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  As an expression of sympathy donations in Cleve’s name may be made to the Chamberlain Cemetery Fund, Box 2, Chamberlain SK S0G 0R0.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Todd Sjoberg, Funeral Director 306-693-4550