Betty Lorraine Simpkins (Nicholson) 1925-2014 Peacefully on September 15, 2014 at Calvary Place Personal Care Home in Winnipeg, Betty passed away. She is survived by her step-daughters, Susan Troke (Edmonton), Jane McGrigor (Winnipeg), her niece, Linda Penner (Estevan) and nephew Bill Nicholson (Saskatoon) as well as their respective families. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Simpkins, her parents, Harry and Laura Nicholson and her brother Ken. Betty was born on October 17th, 1925 in Estevan, Saskatchewan. She had many fond memories of her wonderful childhood and was always very proud to be "Mayor Nicholson's daughter". Betty was an avid sports fan and an exceptional baseball player, playing semi-pro ball for a number of years. She was also proud of the fact that she had pilot's license, at a time when it was not particularly commonplace for women. Betty left Estevan to work in Regina, where she was employed for many years by the Saskatchewan Power Corporation, retiring in 1983. In 1965 she married Frank, after a courtship that lasted 11 years, becoming and instant step-mother to two teenage daughters. She and Frank were married for 28 years, before his passing in 1993. No longer able to be on her own, she moved from Regina to Winnipeg in the spring of 2010 to be closer to Jane and her family. She was a resident at Sturgeon Creek 11, Oakview Place and finally Calvary Place, where she received wonderfully compassionate care for the seven weeks prior to her passing. A memorial service for Betty will take place in Regina on Friday, October 17th, at 1:30 p.m.at First Baptist Church, 2241 Victoria Avenue. Flowers are gratefully declined, but a donation in Betty's name to the Regina Humane Society or First Baptist Church would be greatly appreciated.
