Ben Tan

August 26, 2020

A Life Fully Lived

Our father and grandfather, Ben (Ban Keng) Tan passed away Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 83 years of age to go on to his heavenly home. He was predeceased by his wife, Meng; granddaughter, Rebekah; and three brothers and a sister.

Ben was born in Singapore and travelled and worked in a variety of countries, eventually settling in Calgary. He had an extensive career working and teaching in the petroleum industry. Upon retirement, he moved into the ministry serving with Meng as missionaries for Overseas Missionary Fellowship, travelling to many countries serving in the field.

Ben loved to travel. He enjoyed meeting people and building connections with the many people he encountered around the world. He loved to share his faith in Jesus Christ with whomever he met. Ben desired to instill his love of travel in his family and frequently enticed his children and grandchildren to join him in his travels. Ben enjoyed laughter and joking with his family and friends. He loved to be active, golfing, swimming, and taking long walks.

He is lovingly remembered by his daughter and family, Ruth and Rob Swart, and grandchildren, Matthew and Rachel; and his son and family, Alvin Tan and Connie Louie and grandchildren Joshua, Cameron, and Olivia. He is survived and fondly remembered by remaining siblings in Singapore and Australia, and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews in Singapore, Australia, Toronto, California, and the United Kingdom.

Ben was blessed to have the presence and support of Ben Y., Rudy, Alan and Mary, and Hazel through the last challenging days of his life’s journey, and we are grateful for their care and perseverance. We are thankful for the many who prayed for Ben and our family during this time including our Bethany Chapel, Overseas Missionary Fellowship, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Shalem Manor, and Wing Kei Care Center friends and family.

The family will have a Private Memorial Service for Ben. We want to thank everyone for all they have shared about Ben with us and their ongoing support through this time. In remembrance of Ben and to celebrate his life, spend and cherish quality time with loved ones.

Messages of Condolence

We wish Peace and Comfort at this time of sorrow. May you know His presence at this time. Jn 14:1-4

- John and Janet Teigen

Many visits with Ben & Ming in Singapore. Showed me how to live by faith Always encouraged when we met- The Lord was always the focus of our conversation. Even when playing golf

- Robert Gill

My deepest sympathies to Alvin, Ruth and their families. Ben was a friend and colleague for over 40 years.

- Greg catt

A life well lived indeed! What a legacy he left. A beautiful man. We extend our deepest sympathy Ruth, Rob and family. May you be comforted by the many wonderful memories.

- David and Marilyn Gjosund

Please accept my sincere condolence on Ben's death. He was such a kind man and a real warrior for Jesus Christ. I know that he is resting in the Saviors arms.

- Darlene Bell

Lots of unforgettable memories with my dearest friend, Mr. Tan within the last 10 years. The up and down at WK; the late night car pool returning homes; hospital visits to WK residents & friends and the B.C. adventures. A respectable Christian always gave me a helping hand whenever I needed. A big loss for me.

- Benjamin Yau

I met Ben in the corridors of Shalem, where he would walk and do the steps indoors - only when it was too icy to walk outside. I then enjoyed going for walks with him - he would have to wait for me, until the last walk we did together. Then I knew things were changing. Such a lovely, Christian man, who took every opportunity to share his faith. A fine example to follow.35

- Ruth Hargrove

- Benjamin Yau

Ruth, Alvin and family. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father/grandfather. He was a loving human being. Cherish the precious memories. Sending our love and support.

- Margaret & Norman Yee

I know that I have already missed you & your always welcoming smile! I saw in you the sacrifice of Christ which is still a living example to us. Throughout your life you had devoted your whole self for missionary work, helping the needy, different ministries...to name a few. I still remember I was in awe when I first heard that you went to Ft McMurray in 2016 to comfort the miserable souls and share the Gospel when the whole community was swept through by a wildfire. To me you were so brave to do the counselling ministry there since it’s for sure a super difficult task to do when people were suffered from catastrophic crisis! I also appreciate a decade ago, even though I didn’t know you that well at that time, you were so sweet to come unexpectedly to hospital to pray for & comfort my beloved deceased husband after his brain surgery. You were so ready to reach out to others at all times! Our applause and God’s praises to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your Master’s happiness”. Ruth and Alvin, with deepest sympathy, my thoughts & prayers go out to you & your families. May God’s comfort and peace replace your loss with loving memories of your father

- Josie Chan

My sincerest condolences Ruth, Alvin, and families. Even as he lay in hospice he reminded me that he always prayed for my family every Monday. His faith was amazing, a great example for me to follow. He visited my sick daughter in hospital to the surprise of of my wife at the time, who didn’t know who he was! It was a pleasure and honor to serve at Wing Kei with him, and to be his and your mother’s family doctor. He was a great friend and mentor to me. May he rest in Jesus’ peace forever!!

- Michael Mah

Alvin, Ruth & Families: With great love and respect for the big loss of this friend and skilled helper of about 1/2 a century. I knew Ben from SK Times, as Ben was the OMF Western Regional Rep, (SK, AB & BC); in Calgary as Intnl Univ. Student Leader; Ben worked in Oil & Gas, later taught at SAIT and also out of town Indigenous Students; and Ben was on the WKCC Board as a Vol. assister and legal counsel to Donald Jung, et al, the WKCC Founders, and when his wife Meng was in Care there, and I got to know Ben better thru the S'porean Home Bible Study, which he helped start, and when Ben was a BGEAC Vol. Chaplain and went to Ft Mc Murray during the massive devastating fires. Also, Ben so willingly came and spoke at my Dad's Funeral/ Memorial Service, "The Greatest Real Love Story." Yes, Ben shared God's love and the great true gospel with anyone, anywhere whether golfing in VN, or writing and editing a SE Asia newspaper, or teaching English in Far East Asia, as others aforesaid 'to name a few.' Now, with no more severe pain, which Ben only had the last month, of his 83 yrs, Ben's gone to his heavenly home to meet his Maker and Waymaker and will meet Meng and my Dad, and many others he knows who have gone on before him, and we too shall meet Ben & Meng there one day; all who know the merciful, loving, living, Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord & Saviour, through His amazing grace & faithfulness. Ben was and is still an inspiration and left a good legacy. - Norma Q

- Norma Quan

I know Ben for a long time from his work with Petro Canada, as a missionary for OMF in Asia and a co-worker in Wing Kei Nursing Home. He is a faithful servant of God and stayed by his wife during her long illness and stay in Wing Kei. Never heard any complaint from him with all these burden. Ben is smiling always. This together with Ben Tan's sense of humour by teasing himself to make us laugh usually done at a time when everyone was down or quiet truly helped us to re-ignite our spirit of togetherness and refocus on our work. Thanks for your support Ben. I miss you as a lunch partner in Vietnamese noodle house. Vincent Leung

- Vincent Leung

What a legacy Ben and Meng have left - in their children, but other "children" - bearing fruit all over the world. I was last in touch with Ben almost a year ago when my brother's wife had died. Ben encouraged me. Today is a very special day as it was 31 years ago today that I met my wife - at Ben and Meng's home across the road from the U of C. We discovered later that it was Ben that had arranged that we both be there!

- David Robb

My condolences to Alvin, Ruth, and families. I know Ben as a faithful evangelist of our Lord Jesus Christ to many international students. May our only comfort be found in our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. All who are in Christ shall meet again in paradise.

- Khee Teck Wong

My deepest condolences to Ruth and Alvin. Ben was first a friend of my father and mother. After the passing of my dad, I got to know Ben better. I am amazed by his hospitality and graciousness especially when I visited & stayed with him in July 2018 with my friend. He was full of the joy of the Lord. He has left an indelible mark in my memory because of his love for the Lord and ease at making friends. I’m consoled that he is with the Lord in glory now.

- Naomi Tan

Ben, thank you for sharing your sense of humour and your unwavering faith to our heavenly Father with us in the radiation waiting area. Although our encounters ended with our treatments, I am glad to call you as friend, as you share your words of care and encouragement by text after our treatments were done. Thank you for showing us what a Christian should be. See you in heaven Big Bad Ben❤️

- Vivian & Sam Lui

I just learned of Ben's home going recently. Ben was such a warm and loving friend. He and I met through our mutual friends, the late Chet and Eva Siple, shortly after I moved to Calgary. Ben and I both worked for Dome Petroleum. Many times we would meet for lunch, most often in the Devonian Gardens. HE would share Scripture and other spiritual and practical advice and thoughts. I would call him my primary mentor in the few years I lived and worked in the west. I also knew his late wife, Meng. A few times they travelled east to visit their family and we would meet up in the Greater Toronto Area. Twice I was their personal tour guide to the Niagara region and Niagara Falls. (I did it professionally for 30 years.) We always had such a great time. Ben and I would talk on the phone about three times per year. He asked me many times to come to Asia with him, however, it never worked out. That is my only regret of knowing Ben - not having the privilege of him as my personal tour guide of the far east. I will always remember Ben as a gentle quiet man that when he had something to say, he said it and it meant something. I nicknamed him "Gentle Ben" :-) (You would have to have watched Canadian television in the 70s to understand that significance of that name) Well, Ben. This is not goodbye. It's farewell for now. Ben is now with the Savior whom he loved so much because he embraced the scripture, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13

- J Mark Robinson

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