Avens resident turns 100
Albert Bohnet was born on May 20, 1916 on a farm near Medicine Hat but lived most of his life in Fort Smith
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, May 20, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Albert Bohnet is a man of few words. Perhaps because if you got him talking, it might be difficult to get him to stop. After a century on the planet - he's seen a lot and has a lot to talk about.
Albert Bohnet, who turns 100 years old today, sits in a chair in his room at Aven Manor on Wednesday. He said he feels good about turning 100 but was fairly low key about his milestone birthday. Bohnet was born on a farm near Medicine Hat, Alta., and spent most of his life in Fort Smith before moving to
Yellowknife about two years ago. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Bohnet, who lives in Aven Manor, turns 100 years old today.
Bohnet was born on a farm near Medicine Hat, Alta. on May 20, 1916.
He was the seventh child in a brood of eight sisters and six brothers - a German-Russian farming family, said his son Darryl Bohnet.
At 15, his grandfather "rented" Albert out to work in the harvest, Darryl said.
When Albert wouldn't hand over his three silver-dollar bonus one day, his father "tossed a turkey leg down the table" and banished him from the home.
He found lodgings with an elderly couple about 30 kilometres away from his childhood home and worked there for three years until the beginning of the Second World War, said Darryl.
"He joined the Canadian military and the army found out he could speak fluent German, so they assigned him to a prisoner of war camp in Lethbridge," Darryl said.
"He was tasked with spying on the German prisoners, wandering through the camp with an unloaded gun trying to eavesdrop.
He became an engineer in the military and was transferred to Fort Smith, where he met his wife Febula about 1943.
They got married about three years later.
Albert spent most of his life in Fort Smith where he was a heavy equipment operator and eventually an instructor for the territorial government.
He was also Fort Smith's foreman - or head engineer - and was voted the community's citizen of the year shortly after his retirement, Darryl said.
Albert has four living children, 13 grandchildren and several great grandchildren but neither he nor Darryl were exactly sure how many great grandchildren there are.
About two years ago, Albert moved to Yellowknife and last year he was in the news after nearly being evicted from Avens. He had been staying in the dementia wing of the seniors home for a respite period, according to Darryl, who despite being on Avens' board of directors, was unable at the time to secure his father any long-term care at the facility.
Albert was ordered to vacate Avens in order to make his bed available for another patient.
That situation was eventually sorted out and he is now a permanent resident.
He said he's very happy at Avens and that the staff treat him very well.
Bohnet was in an upbeat mood but fairly low key about his 100th birthday when Yellowknifer visited him on Wednesday.
His emotions did come out when reminiscing about his wife of 65 years who died about four years ago.
Albert said the changes he's seen over the decades are too numerous to mention.
Though, the technological advance he appreciates the most is his large flat screen TV - he uses it daily, mostly to watch sports.
If he isn't watching television he can often be found playing cribbage at Avens.
Albert's health is good, Darryl said, adding his dad wears a hearing aid and had surgery on his eyes.
Otherwise, he has no serious health issues.
Three parties are planned for the centenarian today - two at the Avens Centre and another at Darryl's house in Yellowknife.
While his enthusiasm for his birthday was understated, Albert says he's looking forward to getting written recognition for reaching 100 years old from the governor general and the prime minister.
