Benjamin “Allen” Habich of Empress, passed away on Monday, June 12th, 2017 at the age of 67 years. Allen leaves to cherish his memory his partner, Donna; four children and nine grandchildren, Bobbi Vertigans, Tenneille and Phoenix, Robin and Emmit; Jody (Chris) Christopher, Mackenzie, Tanner, Riece, and Kinley Hickey; Jon (Yiwei-Jessica) Andrea Habich; his sister, Betty Munro; as well as many nieces and nephews. On February 25th, 1950, Benjamin Allen Habich was born in Empress to John and Katie Habich, a little brother to Johnny, Larren and Betty. The Rivers house was moved down the hill and nestled beside 4 Mile Creek where the Habich family took up residence when Johnny married Leona Rath. Allen now had four mothers and two fathers. Johnny and Leona’s four girls, Charlotte, Lois, Elaine and Janice, were like sisters as they grew up together. It was Charlotte and Lois that made him learn to dance. Allen became a young uncle to Ken and Brenda Rinker and Colleen, Charlene, Leslie and Kathi Munro, giving horseback rides and sometimes grumbling when he had to take them along when he went out with friends. At the age of twelve, Allen lost his brother, Johnny, so five years later when his father became seriously ill, Allen left school and stepped in to help his mother run the farm mentored by his brothers-in-law, Henry Rinker and Merril Munro. The farm was Allen’s true love. It was his identity and when he was no longer able to run it himself, it broke his heart. Allen made goals for himself and, with much hard work, by the age of fifty-five, he had reached them all. In 1973, Donna Gill returned home to work in the Empress School and caught the eye of this young farmer. They were married on February 14th, 1974, and became the proud parents of Bobbi Laine, Robin Lee, Jody Tennielle, and Jonathan Read. Allen would often be seen around town with at least one girl standing in the seat tucked behind his shoulder. His son, Jon was called ‘The Habich Prince’. As Jon grew up he and his dad spent many hours in the shop working on the ‘64 blue chev truck and other projects. Allen took great pride in his farm land, his cattle and his shop. He was a smart, talented man always willing to help a neighbor. He built his house on a hill overlooking the Red Deer River and Empress on a spot he had picked out as a boy. When the Red Deer River flooded in 1997, he told people he had river front property. Allen had a keen sense of humor and often had witty comments to make. He loved it when you had a quick comeback answer. He provided well for his family who always knew if something went wrong Dad could fix it. It was a very sad day when, for health reasons, he could no longer do his own work.