Obituary for the late

Barry Joseph Bahnsen  

July 4, 1939 – October 22, 2016

Born July 4, 1939 in Pinedale Alberta, Barry, younger brother to Dave and Max, started his life on the family farm, walking two miles to and from school. Barry attended high school in Edson, then worked on highway and oilfield construction crews, driving trucks, operating heavy equipment, and surveying. Following a year working in Rocky Mountain House, Barry bought a ticket on a ship sailing from Vancouver to Sidney. In Australia, he met a host of characters and landed a series of interesting and varied jobs.

Back in Canada, Barry worked for three more years, and after a six month holiday in South Africa, was offered a job in Iran as a chief surveyor on a copper mine project. When his job in Iran ended, Barry returned to Canada, but was soon off to Saudi Arabia hired as the chief engineer overseeing the construction of a sulphur recovery plant. Working in the Middle East provided Barry with the opportunity to work and travel to places he had only imagined as a child, but at 42 years of age, he felt it was time to settle down, so he bought an orchard in Oliver. It wasn’t long before he and Betty Lou, who had known each other for more than 20 years, were re-united. “I don’t know what it was, but it clicked, and I can’t imagine having a better life then we had.” Barry and Betty Lou shared a love of travel, their pets, food, beer, wine, literature, debate and adventure.

Barry is survived by his wife Betty Lou along with many relatives and friends.

Betty Lou sends her heartfelt thanks to Dr. J. Venter, Dr. P. Entwistle, Lisa and Ashley (Palliative Care Nurses), Dr. Wadhwa, Debbie and Nancy (Cancer Trial Nurses), the Desert Valley Hospice (Massage Volunteers), and all the excellent medical and paramedical staff they met on their journey. Any donations in Barry’s memory can be made to the Penticton SPCA.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.