Leroy Monkman

Leroy Benney Monkman

With heavy hearts we regret to inform you the passing of Benney Monkman on Friday, October 21, 2016 at Boundary Trails Health Centre in Morden, MB.  Our Benney Baby left us at the age of 34 years old; he would have turned 35 on November 17.

He was predeceased by his mother Beatrice Nellie Bricklin and his father George Ortt.

Left to treasure Benney’s memory are his grandmother Rosemary Monkman, 6 brothers Justin, Waylan, Clifford, Floyd, Nathan and Bradley; 2 sisters Trava and Naomi.  Benney is also the borrowed son of Ed and Shirley Bernard; brothers Eddie Jr. and Eugene; and grandson to grandma Ella Lavallee.

We will miss him and cherish every memory we have.

Benney will be missed by many people as he had touched the lives of many.  He always had a big smile for everyone and went out of his way to help you.  This handsome young Metis man considered himself a member of the Manitoba Metis Federation South West Region and was a member of Portage la Prairie Friendship Centre and Eagles Fire Youth Centre.

He loved to volunteer at PFC and EFYC doing all sorts of things helping out each staff member and checking on us to make sure we didn’t’ have to lift anything or move anything heavy around.  We will all miss his beautiful friendly nature, his heart of gold and his periodical visits.

Benney absolutely loved his food and his Sunday dinners at Mommsy and Popsy’s place (Shirley and Ed).  He looked forward to all the family get togethers, BBQ’s and even just a quick visit.  His favourite past time was watching movies with Popsy or borrowing movies, sometimes a dozen at a time.  After movie time Benney and Ed would go outside and clean up or work in one of the sheds organizing and trying to help Ed set up his stuff.  After a hard days work or a hard day of movies they always ended the day around an open bon fire just sitting around talking or just enjoying the stars.  He was in his glory if Popsy would suggest going to Tim’s for coffee as he got to visit even more people there.

Some of his proudest moments was when he was telling us about his biological siblings and when he was talking about being Eddie and Eugene’s brother.  When Benney got baptized Mommsy and Popsy became his God parents and he considered that as his adoption.

We will always love you Benney and always be missing you.  Always remembered by many cousins, his nieces and nephews, many friends and relatives, his biological family, his borrowed family, his Friendship Centre family, Sasha and Bill and everyone he came into contact with.  Luv always.

Visitation and viewing will take place at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Sunday, October 30, 2016 from 7 pm to 8 pm.  Funeral Service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Monday, October 31, 2016 at 11:00 am.  The pallbearers will be Eddie Bernard Jr, Dominic Bernard, Eugene Bernard, Tyrese Bernard, Stewart Calvert, Joshua Ward, Dillion Charlette and Elgin Beaulieu with the interment taking place at Brookside Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Benney’s memory to Central Plains Cancer Services,  318 Saskatchewan Ave. E., Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0K8.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com