Elizabeth (Betty) Marie Varga (nee Schlechter) was born May 3, 1921 in Killaly, to Karl and Margaret (nee Golling) Schlechter. When Betty was three, her family moved to the Waldron district, before settling on the Schlechter farm North East of Bangor. The oldest of eight children, Betty spent many hours caring for her younger siblings in addition to helping her mother, Margaret, with household chores, and tending to animals with her father, Karl. As a young woman, Betty worked cleaning houses, milking cows, and as a child-minder in local households in the district.
On November 9, 1943, Betty married Tony Varga at St. Gerard’s Church in Yorkton, followed by the wedding dance held in their home. A few weeks after their wedding, the couple moved to their farm North of Bangor with only a few boxes, a quilt and a cherished gift from her parents of four cows, including a heifer gifted to Elizabeth from her uncle when she was a teenager, and a calf that had been born on their wedding day. These four cows were the first of many Betty and Tony would raise over the next forty years.
Together, Tony and Betty built their lives on the farm and were active members of the community. Never one to shy away from work, Betty raised chickens, pigs, and cattle, and sold cream, pork and beef in addition to grain. Betty also tended to a beautiful large garden, and each fall spent many hours canning meat and vegetables. From working with her father, she became a skilled horsewoman and her love of horses remained constant throughout her life.
Betty was a talented seamstress; sewing anything from family clothing to the binder canvas. She had a fine eye for detail and immaculate mending skills. She could look at a photo of an outfit to create her own patterns. Betty loved knitting and embroidery. She also had a hidden talent as an amateur artist; sketching life-like horses, birds and “bambis” (deer) on bits of spare paper around the house.
Both active members of the Catholic Church, Tony and Betty hosted the first RCC picnic on their farm in 1944. As there was not a Church in Bangor, Mass was held in their home from November 1943-December 1944. Tony, alongside Betty’s father Karl, helped build the Bangor Catholic Church in 1947-48. For many years, Betty was an active member in the Christian Women’s League, the Ladies Auxiliary, and the New Horizon’s Club organizing fundraisers, bake sales, community picnics, fall suppers and dances.
Tony passed away in December 1997. Betty remained on the farm until moving into Yorkton in 1999; first to a house, and then to Fairview Arms in 2002. In September 2015, Betty returned ‘home’, moving into the Bangor Morris Lodge. In November of 2018, Betty moved to Langenburg Centennial Special Care Home.
While residing at the Bangor Lodge, Betty met a kindred spirit in Clara Schaar. Until Clara’s passing in June 2018, the two were inseparable, spending many hours watching movies, bird watching, listening to old-time music, and recalling as many German words from their childhoods as they could.
Remembering Betty are her brother, Charlie Schlechter, brother Frank Schlechter; sister-in-law, Effie Schlechter; sister-in-law Elsie Stephens; sister-in-law Margaret Varga; and brother-in-law, Jim Varga. Son, Jerry (Dee) Varga, and family, Daryn Varga and children, Megan and Madison; Ivan (Tara) Varga and children, Austin, Tavis, Alex and Rylan. Daughter, Marlene (Brian) Jones and family, Tracy Jones (Sunil Shaw); Kenton Jones (Leah Sieben Jones); Lorinda Jones (Kirk Englot) and their son, Zachary; Brendan (Amy) Jones and children, Dorian and Teagan. Son, Pat (Janet) Varga, and family, Devin (Erinn) Varga and daughter Quinn; Nathan Varga (Ami Dzuba); Loran (Mike) Chapman, and children, Bentley and Hudson. Son, Norman Varga (Helen Barker) and family, Melissa (Steve Gelowitz); and Kristin (Mark) Miller and children, Mason and Eliya. As well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Michael’s RC Cemetery Fund (PO Box 4 Bangor, SK S0A 0E0) or to the Langenburg Care Home Recreation Fund (PO Box 370 Langenburg, SK S0A 2A0).
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Varga Schlechter Monday August 2nd 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Yorkton, Province: Saskatchewan