Bent was born in Norway and raised in Victoria, B.C. After attaining a Bachelor of Science in Forestry (1979) at U.B.C. he met his Swedish wife the following year while travelling Australia. He moved to the Comox Valley in 1981 where they raised their three kids enjoying the outdoors in all its splendour. Bent retired in 2021 after a 41-year career in the Forest industry. He has always had a passion for golf, hiking, travel, dogs, and horses.