Ben Christensen announced his retirement from Bill and Don’s Men’s Wear after 45 years spent with the local business. (Submitted photo/Emily Simon)

By Martin Martinson

Calling it a career

Christensen reflects on 45 years with Bill and Don’s

Mar 4, 2021 | 2:00 PM

One of North Battlefords’ longest-serving business owners officially announced his retirement this week in the community.

After 45 years at Bill and Don’s Menswear, Ben Christensen took some time to chat with battlefordsNOW about his four-and-a-half decades spent in the business community, and what made this the right time to call it a career.

Christensen began working at Bill and Don’s in the May of 1975 as a young salesman, just a half-a-block from the local Eaton’s, where he cut his teeth working through his high school years and into young adulthood.

Christensen still remembers fondly his early years after joining the clothing retailer, and the burgeoning downtown business scene within the community, through the turn of the decade.

“In 1975 and the late 70s into 1980, North Battleford just had such a thriving little downtown and thriving business centre,” he said. “All the grocery stores were downtown, there were gas stations downtown, and everything was located in the central core.”

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

11h ago

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

12 Best Tips to Spend Less at Christmas

Nov 18, 2025

With the advent of the first shopping mall coming to the community in the early 1980s, Christensen said that is when things really began to shift in the business landscape.

“A mall came in the early 1980s and changed the dynamics of shopping in the Battlefords. So everything became spread out over the years,” he said. “I think there are almost as many businesses now as there were then, it’s just that they’re different.

“Back then, there was an Eaton’s, a Kresge’s, a Wolsworths, there were many national chains that aren’t around anymore, so we feel pretty good about [Bill and Don’s] still being here all these years later.”

And while business itself may have been evolving, so too was Christensen’s life, both personally and professionally. In 1980, he took perhaps the first step in establishing himself within the business, becoming a minority owner of Bill and Don’s to support his growing family.

“I had a wife and young daughter and had to decide what my future would be, so I approached Bill Wheeldon and Don Ross, to buy into the business and I did acquire 12 percent in 1980,” Christensen said. “So I’ve been an owner in many different capacities for over the last 40 years.”

Just four years later in 1984, following the retirement of Wheeldon and unexpected death of Ross, Christensen became an equal partner with Don’s son, Jim Ross until 1998. The last 22 years, Christensen has been an equal parts owner with Derek Schmidt.

As Christensen looks ahead to the next chapter and what lies ahead in retirement, he said he can’t help but look back fondly on his last 45 years.

“I still really like my work and like coming to work, but I’ve been here for 45 years and it’s just time to move on,” he said. “I still really enjoy the public, I like my customers, and I was fortunate to have four of the best business partners I could have asked for in the last 40-plus years. I always appreciated learning a great deal from each and every one of them.”

Christensen said in retirement, he looks forward to spending quality time with family, and exploring interests, such as traveling and staying active.

“I love everything about the [NationsWEST] Field House, and I acquired some new cross-country skis, maybe the last ones available in the province,” he said with a laugh. “I am going to spend a lot more time with my four grandchildren, my wife and I plan to travel when that becomes possible, and I’m excited about it all.”

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1