Edna Elizabeth Bickford

Edna Elizabeth "Betty" Bickford

      It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Mom on July 21, 2018 at the Riverview Health Centre at the age of 92 years. 

      She will be sadly missed by her daughter Valerie & son-in-law Stan, Stan’s daughter & family Nicole, Tori, Carl and Keira, her sister Margaret, sisters-in-law Evelyn, Mona, Hazel, Elsie, brother-in-law Bill and many treasured nieces, nephews and family friends.  She was predeceased by her husband Keith (2007), parents Albert Morris Kilfoyle and Ruth Louise (Bertha) Juckes, sisters Ethel and May along with brothers; James, Edward, Lawrence, Harold, Roy, Howard and Earl. 

      Betty was born April 9, 1926 in MacGregor MB, the youngest sibling.  At a young age her family moved to “the River” as they referred to their new home south of Austin along the Assiniboine river flats now part of Spruce Woods Provincial Park.  Mom recalled some of memories of the time of the “boys”, her brothers, farming the land with the steam engine and horse drawn implements, tending their animals and garden, swimming in the river with sisters Margaret and May, berry picking and Betty & Margaret in the winter hitching their sleigh to the back of the skid for a ride.

      In October 1950 she married Keith Bickford.  They farmed for a few years before venturing out when Keith managed North American Lumber Yards in Rivers MB, then Asquith, Smiley and Carduff, SK.  It was here they started family life and their daughter Valerie was born.  In 1965 they returned to their farm where they spent many years in the Arizona district south of Austin MB.  Mom was a member of the Austin UCW and enjoyed baking, cooking and fellowship in the United Church dining hall at the Austin Ag Museum summer fair.  At home the kitchen was her domain and we all gave her space to create her awesome home cooked meals and baking.  In her earlier years she enjoyed curling and had a few trophies to her credit.  She also enjoyed quilting, sewing, knitting and crochet.  

      For health reasons, Mom and Dad left farming in 1976 to live in Portage la Prairie.  Here Mom enjoyed a number of years running the Yellowquill School canteen and working with the students.  They retired to Austin MB in 1988 and enjoyed many years in the community.  This also gave them the time to travel to Victoria, BC a number of winters to visit family.  With other vacationing Prairie dwellers in the same motel, they would spend evenings playing cards and visiting in the common area.  In 2002 they returned to Portage and Mom joined the Kozy Korner and Herman Prior Seniors groups for fellowship, spending many afternoons and some evenings playing cards and bingo.  She also enjoyed watching curling and the Blue Jays baseball on TV.

      In 2017 Mom moved to assisted living in Winnipeg to be closer to her family.  That fall she was diagnosed with lung cancer.  We enjoyed nice family time and Sunday meals together until the cancer took its toll.  Mom went to Riverview Health Centre about 3 weeks before to leaving us.  Many thanks to the Palliative Care program nurses who helped Mom prior to Riverview Health Centre.  As well, a heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Palliative Care Unit (3E) at Riverview Health Centre for your care and compassion you gave Mom during her final days.  

      In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Riverview Health Foundation, One Morley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3L 2P4, The Manitoba Lung Association, 301 – 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4C6 or a charity of ones’ choice. 

      A viewing and reception for Betty will be held on Saturday, July 28th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Omega Funeral Home, 83 Royal Road S., Portage la Prairie, MB.  Interment will follow the reception at the Austin Cemetery.

“Watch a Blue Jays game for Betty!”

Messages of condolences can be made online at www.omegafuneralhome.com.  

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