Bertina MORGANS

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MORGANS: Bertina (Betty) Clara. With her family by her side, Betty passed away on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre at the age of 86. Betty was born in Brandon on September 24, 1924, the daughter of Bill and Wanda Donald. Both of her parents immigrated to Canada in the early 1900’s, her father from the Netherlands and her mother from Germany. She was always very proud of all they accomplished in their lives. She and her three sisters, Elsie, Margaret and Marion, and brothers Bill and Jack, grew up in Brandon. In her early years Betty achieved both academic and athletic accolades. She won medals for spelling and was an accomplished competitive speed skater. When the war broke out and Brandon was surrounded by military bases, the lovely Donald sisters had their pick of dance partners. Betty caught the eye of a handsome airman from Edmonton named Ernest (Ernie) Page at the Palladium dance hall. They were married on May 26, 1942 and moved to Edmonton where their first child Ernest (Bud) was born. After the war the family moved back to Brandon to be closer to family. It was in Brandon that they bought their first and only home and expanded their family, welcoming their daughter Sharron and later their son Donald. Betty and Ernie loved dancing and could often be found at their favorite dance hall or bowling five pin for the Brandon Club league. They also spent many hours at the South End Community Center skating with their family. The family loved going to the cabin at Clear Lake where they spent many summers fishing, boating, eating at the cook shack, roller skating, and enjoying time with family and friends. Tragedy struck when in 1966 the love of her life, her husband Ernie, passed away at the young age of 44. She was devastated, but with her strength, courage and tenacity she pulled everyone together and moved on. Betty loved her family and they all loved her. She enjoyed having all her family together and especially enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Everyone who knew her marveled at her sense of humor. She always had a joke to tell or was quick with one of her famous one-liners. She was always happy, upbeat and positive, and because of this you would often find younger people over for a visit just because they enjoyed her company. She was known by many as quite a character. Betty’s knowledge of sports was legendary. She would often make the calls in football or hockey games before the ref did, and more often than not she was correct. She also stayed very current in world events and was often the ”go to” person if we wanted to know what was happening in the world, celebrity news, what the weather forecast was or what was on sale in the local grocery store. Mom will be sadly missed by all of her family and friends. Betty was predeceased by her husband Ernie, son Ernie (Bud) 2nd husband Alvin Morgans, parents Bill and Wanda, sisters, Elsie, Margaret, Marion and brother Bill. Betty will be forever remembered by her daughter Sharron (Ken) Martinook, Donald (Leona) Page, grandchildren: Jeff Martinook (Marilyn), Michelle Martinook (Jeff Moggach), Zach Page, Anson Page and Dawn Marie Jempson (Dennis) , great-grandchildren: Schylar, Gage, Ethan, Teisha, Reanna & Kelton and one great-great grandchild Isaiah. A celebration of Betty’s life was held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 with Rev. Jim Brown of St. George’s Anglican Church officiating. Urn bears were her grandchildren representing each of her children’s families: Jeff Martinook, Dawn Marie Jempson and Zach Page. A special tribute was read by her grandson-in-law, Jeff Moggach. The funeral was held at Memories Chapel on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 with a private interment at Brandon Cemetery – Veteran’s section. We would like to extend a thank you to all of the angels on Palliative Care, and to all of moms friends and neighbors. Your support and caring was amazing, and we will forever be grateful to you! Those wishing may make donations in Betty’s memory to: Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation for Cancer Care, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or Heart & Stroke Foundation, 3-824-18th St. Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 5B7.“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.”

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 26, 2011