Obituary of Elizabeth June Hart

Betty went to join Lloyd, the love of her life, on Dec. 31, 2010 at the age of 90 years. Betty was born on June 3, 1920 to Joseph and Edna Harbison on a homestead south of Botha. She was always so proud of the fact that her father was said to be the first settler east of the Red Deer River. She attended Manthano School until Grade 10, then moved into Stettler with an Aunt and Uncle to take her high school, graduating in 1938. After graduation she went to Edmonton Normal School, and after completion of her teachers training, taught in Ingleton, Little Knife and 2 years at Whetsel. Whetsel School is now the schoolhouse at the Stettler Museum and her great grandchildren take delight in seeing where Granny taught. Though Mom and Dad grew up only 6 miles apart, they never met until 1941 while Mom was teaching and Dad was home on leave from the Air Force. They were married on Aug. 16, 1944 and spent the next 66 years together in Calgary, Eastern Canada and finally in the Botha area after Dad’s discharge. In 1949 they moved onto the Hart family homestead and there began their lives as part of a farming community. Life on the farm was very much pioneer style in the first years, though they had a beautiful old home to live in that Dad’s father had built in 1918. With the power coming to the farm in 1954 life became a little easier for them. Mom was always part of running the farm, raising chickens, turkeys, gardening, selling eggs and fryer chickens and helping Dad when she could. She was chief grain hauler for many years and enjoyed working side by side with Dad. Through these years 5 children were born and their love for each and every one of us was shown in countless ways. She was a wonderful seamstress and an excellent cook. She won many red ribbons for her buns and pies at the Stettler Fair. Meal times were always a feast no matter what she served. There was always dessert and her potato salad is still incomparable to any other that we have ever tasted. She loved to curl and spent many hours at the rink either curling herself or watching Dad. She was always a helper in the kitchen at the Botha Curling Rink at Bonspiel time. In later years she followed Allan’s curling trail as well as granddaughters Cheryl and Karen and the bonspiels that Vivian, Denny and Ken took part in. Her greatest achievement was instilling in her family the love that she had for them and for Dad. She was such a brave person facing losses of her brothers, sisters, in-laws and life changes with sadness and acceptance and with the attitude that she would make the best of any situation she faced. Her love of family extended to her loving daughter Vivian Hinkle and grandchildren Cheryl (Mike Talma), Karen (Steve) Copeland, and Laura Hinkle; son Allan (Jessie Inman) Hart, grandchildren Claire (Brent) Carr, Allan Hart Jr.; son Ken (Sandra) Hart, grandchildren Julia (Dan Hikita) Hart, Angela (Garett) Martin; son Jim Hart; and son Ted (Jana) Hart and grandchildren Chelsea, Eric, Sam, and Elyse; dear friend Jamie Rosequist along with 6 great grandchildren that she loved very much. Betty is also survived by her sister Jeanne Chaffee of High River and brother in law Frank Storek and many nieces, nephews and countless friends she made through the years. She was predeceased by her loving husband Lloyd on Dec.15, 2010 as well as an infant son David, her parents Joseph and Edna Harbison, brothers David Harbison and his wife Ann, Joe Harbison and his wife Audrey, Josephine and her husband Chester Sorenson, Mary and her husband Keith Siebert, brother-in-law Harvey Chaffee, brothers and sisters-in-law Walter and Betty Hart, Harold and Marie Hart, Mabel and Glen Walker, Ethel and George Stuckrath, Anna Storek and son – in –law Dennis Hinkle. Family and friends will gather for a graveside service and interment on Sat. Jan. 8 at the Botha Woodland Cemetery at 1:30 PM. Following the burial service, a Memorial tea in honor of Betty will be held at the Botha Seniors Center at 2 PM, prepared by the Botha UCW. Memorial contributions in memory of Betty can be made to the Botha United Church, Botha Woodland Cemetery or Stettler Health Services Foundation – Pine Ridge.