66. Subject to section 65, upon the death of a contributor who was not employed in accordance with Part I of the Retirement Pension Act immediately prior to 1 January 1954, or who was employed at that time but did not remain employed in the public service or with the employer without significant interruption thereafter and was employed at the time of his death with fewer than 5 years of pensionable service to his credit, the contributor’s surviving spouse or, where there is not surviving spouse, his children, shall be entitled to a refund of his contributions in the form of a death benefit. Any amount payable to the children shall be paid on a pro-rata basis to each of the children eligible therefor.