MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
John Ray Bennett
and Isabel (Steed) Bennett
and Isabel (Steed) Bennett
Spring Coulee and District page 209 - 210
John Ray Bennett was born on December 21, 1899,
in Lehi, Utah, the seventh child of Austin Robert
and Alice Emily (Harding) Bennett. The family moved
to Magrath, Alberta in 1904 via railroad. The
opportunity to obtain good land reasonably through
a colonization and irrigation arrangement, the LDS
church was involved in, luring many Utah families to
the area.
Ray was raised in Magrath and received his education
there and a winter semester at the B.Y.U.. Ray's
father, Austin had acquired land in two different
locations around the Magrath area and one east
of Spring Coulee in 1910. As a teenager Ray helped
his father farm and in his early twenties made arrange-
ments to purchase the half section in the Spring Coulee
area. For many years he batched and lived in a small
shack while he worked the land.
In 1931 Ray married Isabel R. Steed, daughter of William
and Mary Steed from Cardston. There were ten children
in the family. Isabel loved to play the piano and fondly
recalled playing for the silent movies in Cardston. She
would sit in the dark and watch the movie and as the
mood of the picture changed her fingers would magically
follow suit. She willingly shared this musical talent
socially and in church callings throughout her life. After
attending Garbutt's Business School she was employed
at the Bank of Montreal in Magrath.
At the time of the Bennett's marriage Spring Coulee had
two stores, (one with a post office), two garages, the
United Church, a Hotel, a pool room (with barber shop),
a dance hall, and a school.
Following their marriage they moved on to the farm and
struggled through the depression with low prices, drought
and isolation. As their family grew they added to their
house and bought another quarter section. Then in the
early 40s Ray bought another half section of adjoining
land. In 1946 he sold one quarter to help purchase an
additional section. The work was hard, the hours were long,
but over time they prospered. They enjoyed their neighbors
and the people who worked for them. Many of Ray's
nephews from Magrath helped with the farm work and
were remembered fondly.
In the twenties and thirties the field work was done with
horses. Each horse was named and remembered for its
own personality and characteristics. Isabel took many
photographs of the various teams and saddle horses.
Years later it was fun to reminisce as they looked
through the albums.
Isabel was a wonderful cook and loved to feed friends
and family members scrumptious meals of roast beef,
fresh buns, pies and cakes, yummy vegetables from
Ray's large garden, and her marvelous home made
ice-cream.
It seemed that a larger than average number of
salesmen would show up at the Bennett farm
precisely in time for dinner. Needless to say they
never left hungry.
Ray served as trustee for the Vernal School District
until it was amalgamated into the Spring Coulee School.
In the early 50s Ray became president of the Rural
Electrification Association and spearheaded the
project that brought power to the local farms.
Isabel was finally able to have some modern
conveniences including the telephone and running
water. The house was renovated complete with
bathroom and new kitchen.
Ray enjoyed fishing and took several pack horse
trips into the Belly River Lakes with John MacKenzie,
Tom Beswick and other neighbors. He and Isabel
also loved to picnic with the family.
Ray was honest, responsible and hard working. When
he started something he persevered until the job
was done. Even in his seventies if he saw grain
being hauled he would grab a scoop shovel and
pitch in. He was lean and strong and stayed in
good shape except for periods of ill health. Ray
and Isabel often sang favorite songs and the
family as a whole would sing in harmony together.
Ray felt a particular responsibility for his sisters who
needed additional support. He raised turkeys and
other produce which he willingly shared with them.
He served as a Sunday School superintendent in the
new Spring Coulee Branch for eleven years.
Ray loved his family and wanted the best for his
wife and children. Ray and Isabel had six children,
5 sons and one daughter. All obtained University
educations.
Ray Passed away November 19, 1981. Isabel remained
on the farm and had several health years before her
death on May 17, 1991.
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Mary Tollestrup