Arthur Bings

On October 19, 2023, as he often did, our Dad snuck out one last time without saying goodbye.

Arthur (Art) Bings has left our world to join his parents, Edward (Ted) and Miriam Bings, grandparents, Lydia and Arthur Kayra, Ingeborg Dohlmann and Arthur Bings.

Born into the fishing community of Kyuquot, BC, Art was raised by the ocean and followed in his father’s, uncle’s and grandfathers' footsteps to become a fisherman.

The Bings family, including younger siblings Richard and Karen, moved from Kyuquot to Royal Oak when Art was in grade 2. Art completed his education with Claremont high school where he met our mom, Joy. They married in the typical shotgun fashion, with baby Layla arriving soon afterwards.

Art and Joy settled in Sooke, had two more daughters, Trisha and Dana, and remained there until their divorce in the late 80’s. Their relationship would remain amicable through the years, to the great benefit of their daughters and extended family.

As a young father, Art would work various jobs with the Victoria School Board, Sooke Sawmill, Dennis Shellfish, and Sprinkling Auto Body. He would also go herring fishing with his Dad and brother Richard. Art eventually purchased his own commercial fishing boat, Liberty. As he experienced fairly extreme sea sickness, he would fish the calmer waters of the inside coast of Vancouver Island.

Art was gifted with many creative talents and in later years, he found his passion in boat building and restoration. His meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship was evident in all of his projects. One lucky son-in-law, Craig, was the recipient of one of Art's project boats and can attest to its impressive fishing capabilities.

Art’s final project and crowning glory was the restoration of The Courageous, a 46 foot wooden salmon troller which was originally built in 1966 by uncle, Esko Kayra. The folks around the wharf in Crofton were witness to the countless hours Art spent lovingly restoring and maintaining it. According to his friend, Sharyl, ‘he painted it only a million times’. A treasured memory for his family was the day we got to join him for a cruise together to Galiano Island.

Our Dad had a quiet presence but, at times, a very loud appreciation for music. Son in law and fellow time traveller, Steven, can tell you about the many blown speakers to show for it. He wasn’t a man of many words but would never forget to send a birthday card. His grandchildren: Ty, Leo, Sage, Otis and Ruby will undoubtedly miss their Papa Fart’s fifty bucks that would be included within a funny card (usually of a cat)!

Dad’s smoked salmon was legendary. He lived a slow and unassuming life, would give us canned salmon and tuna, always grew a garden and his vehicles were usually at least 30 years old. He loved his cats and chocolate cake dearly. You could hear his diesel truck coming a mile away. In later years, he wouldn’t travel far and shared his time between Sooke and Crofton. We are sure that one of Dad’s happiest days was when son in law Adam came along, thereby marking the end of the countless moving help requests from his daughters.

We’ll miss you, Dad!

If you wish to make a donation in Art’s memory, please consider the Sooke Food Bank, a local cat rescue, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. And if you happen to stop by the Brass Bell in Crofton, ask for ‘Art’s Coffee’ and share a story or two about our dad.

Please contact Layla to RSVP and for service details.