Betty Evans was born April 9, 1930 in Kindersley, SK, daughter of Herb and Doris (nee Hames) Linfoot. Her Dad worked for Canadian Utilities Power Company and was transferred to Yorkton in 1936 where Betty started Grade 1 at Simpson School. Betty completed Grade 3 when the family was transferred to Grenfell, the year WWII was declared. Her Dad joined the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve in 1940 and trained at Naden, Esquimalt, BC (63 years later Betty's granddaughter Charlene completed her Navy training at this same base from 2003 to 2005). The family moved to British Columbia where Betty attended school at Bradner, New Westminster and Langley Prairie. When the war ended in 1945 her Dad was transferred back to Yorkton where Betty graduated Grade 12 at the Yorkton Collegiate Institute (YCI). She moved to Saskatoon where she completed a Business Course and was employed by the Royal Bank. Betty's life was always church centered and while attending St. George's Anglican Church in Saskatoon she met Evan deLloyd Evans - know to all as Dutch. They were married in 1951 at Holy Trinity Church, Yorkton. They returned to Saskatoon until Dutch was transferred to Prince Albert and then to Calgary. Betty was active in the church wherever she lived. In Calgary she was Girls' Auxiliary leader and Sunday School Superintendent with 150 elementary school children attending. Donna remembers they were packed in the hall like sardines! In 1966 the family moved to Yorkton and Betty became very active at Holy Trinity - Sunday school teacher, Vestry member, People's warden, Synod delegate and Lay reader. In fact, the current Holy Trinity Anglican Church is a result of the Building Committee Betty and her sister, Sheila were a part of. In September of this year, the congregation celebrated the 25th Anniversary of this church building where Betty spoke on the challenges and the privilege of being a part of the build. In 1968 Betty opened a private kindergarten in Holy Trinity Parish Hall. For 7 years she touched the lives of many children. In 1975 kindergarten became a part of the elementary school system and Betty was hired as a shared secretary for three schools: Angus Spice, Fairview and Dr. Brass. Eight weeks into her new job Dutch died suddenly, leaving Betty a widow at 45 with two of her four children still at home. Her faith, love and support from relatives, friends and co-workers kept her going and she returned to work, working for 20 years in a job she truly loved. The children, principals and teachers all valued and respected her even when she expressed her opinion (which was probably often!). Being the school secretary she was the go to person for everyone and she came to the rescue of any child who needed comforting, to call home or have a band aid for a cut or bruise. A mother of one of the children said her son referred to Mrs. Evans as the President of Dr. Brass. Betty loved to travel. In 1992 she and her daughter Donna travelled to Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. The trip was special as her nephew was living in Japan at the time and was able to show them many special sights. Her trip to England, Scotland and Wales with Ray and Donna in 1997 was very memorable as they toured where her Dad was born and also visited Dutch's relatives in Wales. Her three sons lived outside of Yorkton and she loved to visit them: Greg in Swift Current, Regina and Moose Jaw; Rod in Regina, Edmonton and Prince Edward Island (where she was thrilled to visit Cavendish, the setting for Anne of Green Gables) and Tom in Calgary, where he would take her to Spruce Meadows, the home of international horse sports. Betty loved her children and was often complimented on raising them to be such wonderful kids. She was very proud of their accomplishments and kept in touch with each of them, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved Christmas. The children remember her reading the story of Jesus' birth on Christmas Eve. After the story they would each light a candle on their cupcakes and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. Betty loved gift giving and began early to choose the perfect gift for each person on her list. Donna found Betty's gifts ready for this Christmas. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Dutch; her parents, Herb and Doris Linfoot; her in-laws, Evan "Bill" and Mary Evans; sisters-in-law, Olive Gunn and Gladys Chaben; brothers-in-law, Tom (Madeliene) Evans and Gordon Harris and grandson, Jessie Ahlquist. She leaves to celebrate her life; her sister and best friend, Sheila Harris; her four children: Donna (Ray Sass), Greg (Lorna), Rod (Gwen) and Tom (Belinda); grandchildren: Christopher (Meghan), Charlene (Jerrod), Michael, Robert, Michelle (Jason) and Eli (Ang); great-grandchildren: Connor, Derrick, Adam, Mackenzie, Alexandra, Taylor, Dominic, Jayd, Kashton, Saryn and Colton. Betty touched the lives of many people and each of you have your own special memories of her. Please share them with her family to keep her spirit alive. As the Christmas season approaches, Betty's family ask that each person who was touched by her love, perform a random act of kindness in her honour and memory of their Mom. Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Yorkton, SK with Reverend Ken Buchan and Reverend Luanne Hrywkiw officiating. Betty's daughter shared words of tribute in her mother's honour. The readers were Sheila Harris and Gregory Evans. The accompanists, Judy Berg and Joleen Cherland, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Morning Has Broken", "I Feel the Winds of God Today" and "Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet". The Cremation Committal followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Roderick Evans serving as the casket bearer. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
