Betty’s Obituary
Betty Mitchell
Oct 10, 1925 – Oct 15, 2020
Betty was born and raised in London, England. In 1944 she married Leonard (‘Mitch’) Mitchell, an RCAF pilot, and became one of the 45,000 British war brides who came to Canada to rejoin their husbands after WWII. These courageous young women undertook a journey by ship to Halifax, and many then travelled by train across the country to discover their new homes. So four thousand miles later, Betty disembarked in Saskatoon during a blinding snowstorm, and her Mitch was there to meet her. Together, they farmed near Kinistino for 60 years and raised four children: Judith, Derek, Sheila, and Craig.
Betty was a rare and amazing person. Coming from big, bustling London, she knew nothing at all about rural Saskatchewan, but came to love farming as a way of life and made it her own. When she discovered there was no local library, she wrote to the central library in Regina and had books loaned to her through the mail. She learned to cook and to garden, doing both with great enthusiasm (as she did everything). When she and Leonard moved closer to Kinistino, she became an active member of her ‘church family’ at St George’s Anglican Church. She was their organist for the past three decades, playing for many weddings and funerals, and she was a faithful participant in Bible study groups.
After Leonard died in 2011, Betty continued to live on her own on the farm, tending to her apple orchard and her huge garden, donating fruit and vegetables to the Food Bank and whoever else wanted them. Her knitting was exquisite, and she knit beautiful outfits for countless babies over the years. She lived the last year of her life in Victoria BC, remaining active and appreciative of life and people until the very end.
Betty lived her life with an open heart and infinite kindness, finding and appreciating the good in people, situations, and the natural world. She lived her faith joyfully and was a much-loved member of the Kinistino community and her new Victoria neighbourhood. She will be greatly missed.
In addition to her children, Betty leaves her grandchildren Devon and Shawn Mitchell, daughters-in-law Sharon Mitchell and Rae Coates, son-in-law John Nicol, and sister-in-law May Gudelot. She was predeceased by her parents, her Mitch, and her sisters Doris and Eda. May she rest in love and peace.
Because of COVID, a memorial service will be held at a later date
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Betty Isabel Mitchell October 10 1925 October 15 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Melfort, Province: Saskatchewan