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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our mother, Jacqueline Claire Betts (nee Norton). Jackie went peacefully into the arms of God on March 10, 2023 at Tudor Manor, in Okotoks, AB.
Jackie was born on April 11, 1934 in New Barnet, Hertfordshire, England to Doris and D’arcy Norton. She was the second of two children (Margaret).
She lived in Potters Bar until the outbreak of World War II. To protect the girls from the devastation of The Blitz, they were sheltered at a boarding school in Barford, Warwickshire.
Jackie was a shy child who rarely got into mischief, occasionally reprimanded for poor marks. Though she was a slight girl, she competed in field hockey.
The effects of the war were ever-present. Jackie often recounted the story of being at home and being allowed to have an extra piece of toast for breakfast, which caused her to miss her bus. She later learned that a German bomb had scored a direct hit on the transport, killing all passengers.
After completing secondary school, Jackie went on to study at Battersea Training College of Domestic Science to earn a home economics certificate. In 1955, she took a nanny position in Brussels, then moved on to teach Needlework and Domestic Science at Warlingham County Secondary School. Now bitten by the travel bug, her adventurous spirit took her to France, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.
But it was the journey in 1957 that would change Jackie’s life. By ship, then train, she travelled 6,953 kilometers for a home economics teaching job in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. It was there she met Ted Betts, a divorced father of three (Edward, Prue and Bruce). Ted, a construction foreman, was building the school where Jackie would teach. The two began dating, eventually marrying on May 19, 1961.
Ted and Jackie came to live in Innisfail, where Douglas (1964), Diane (1965) and Susan (1966) were born. At the time, Calgary was booming. So, the family moved to the rapidly expanding city, where Ted worked within the construction trade. Jackie had her hands full with the three youngsters.
The family of five enjoyed camping and boating. Summer weekends were almost always spent on a lake in Alberta or BC. Tents gave way to a motorhome. Row boats gave way to a motorboat.
As the years passed, Jackie never lost touch with the people in her life. She wrote weekly to her family and friends back in England, a practice she carried on the duration of her life. She maintained correspondence with fellow teachers, classmates, students – even the family she nannied for in Belgium. By conservative estimates, the letter and card count would be upwards of 9,000! There were also trips back to England and reciprocal visits from Jackie’s parents, sister Margaret and Margaret’s husband, Andrew.
In 1978, Jackie returned to school, earning her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary. She taught elementary grades for the Calgary Board of Education until her retirement in 1987. Jackie hurried into her retirement in earnest (as there was always a garden to tend). She took up weaving – carding, spinning and dying her own wool. She kept a busy volunteer schedule. And there were always letters and cards to write.
Ted and Jackie had already logged many kilometers with the motorhome. In their retirement, they embarked on two epic journeys to The Yukon, Alaska, and The Northwest Territories. It was around this time that Ted and Jackie built a new house in Canmore, Alberta, in the shadow of the mountains they loved.
In 1989, they purchased a cottage on Mara Lake in Sicamous, BC. The Betts’ Roost became the focal point of summer vacations under the hot Shuswap sun. Everyone was welcome to visit, to sit on the deck with a cold beer or a cup of tea. Ted took on projects to get the cottage just the way he wanted it and Jackie tended to the garden. In the evening stillness, guests gathered on the deck for refreshments and conversation, lulled by the melody of Jackie’s spinning wheel.
Although Ted’s passing in 1996 marked the end of a long and significant chapter in Jackie’s life, it did not deter her from forging into the next. She traveled to Australia and England. She volunteered. She hiked.
She had always welcomed the children of Ed, Prue and Bruce as her own grandchildren. When Diane and Susan had children of their own, it was just more of a good thing. But Granny was no pushover. An ice cream treat at Mara Lake meant youngsters had to walk with Jackie to the dairy. And proper English manners were never to be forgotten.
Jackie sold the Canmore house and moved to Black Diamond. She lived there until age and circumstance necessitated one final move to Tudor Manor in Okotoks.
Jackie was the embodiment of the adage “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness”. She was perpetually optimistic, with a busy mind and eager hands. Her light shown on us all; and it burned the same for everyone. If you were down on your luck – if you needed a lift, you’d find an encouraging note in the mail and often a little something to help you get by.
If we have left Jackie’s faith to the last, it’s because it deserves a special mention. Jackie had a deeply personal relationship with her God and her Anglican faith. Throughout her life, she was active in the church, giving freely of her time and financial support for her church and charitable causes. She represented the best qualities of a daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. She was the incarnation of God’s will on Earth.
Jackie is survived by her sister Margaret (Tawse), her children Douglas, Diane (Grant), Susan (Michael) and grandchildren Jared, Katelyn and Sarah. She was also fond of Ted’s three older children, Edward (Elsie), Prue (Harry), Bruce, and their children and grandchildren.
Jackie was predeceased by her parents, Doris and D’arcy, her grandchild, Christopher, and her husband, Ted.
The family thanks the caregiving staff of Tudor Manor for their dedication to making her final years as comfortable as possible and for providing the peace of mind that our mother was well cared for.
Services will be held at St. George’s Anglican Church in Turner Valley on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 11:00AM. (200 Main St SW, Turner Valley, Alberta). Reception to follow in the church hall. A graveside service in Canmore will held for family at a later date.
Condolences and memories can be shared at Snodgrassfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jackie’s name to any of the following charities she supported: The Diabetes Association of Canada, The Canadian National Institute for the Blind or The Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Arrangements are in care of Snodgrass Funeral Home Okotoks (403) 938-3111.
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April 11 1934
March 10 2023
Death notice for the town of: Okotoks, Province: Alberta
death notice Jacqueline Claire Betts April 11 1934
March 10 2023
obituaries notice Jacqueline Claire Betts April 11 1934
March 10 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jacqueline Claire Betts April 11 1934
March 10 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
