Betty Lorayne (Shay) Riddell

Betty Riddell

1930 – 2018

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Betty Lorayne Riddell on November 8, 2018 at the ag of 88.

Betty was born on January 7, 1930 in Oxbow, Saskatchewan to Alice and Ralph Shay.

She is survived by her three children: Susan (Bill) Fulford, Stanley (Lori) Riddell, and Brian (Rhonda) Riddell; grandchildren Aden Fulford, Erin (Miles) Majcher, Sarah Riddell and Paul van Koll, Grace Riddell, Michael and Katherine Riddell, Michael and Breanna How; great grandchildren Marcus and Rhea Majcher.

Also left to mourn her loss are brother Roy (Edna) Shay, nephews Bob Shay, Grant ( Joanne) Shay, Doug ( Debbie) Shay; nieces Janet Shay and Mike Alexander, Michele Shay and Dave Mercer; sister-in-law Alice (Glenn) Riddell; nephews Archie ( Donna-Mae) Riddell, Steven, (Janet) Riddell, Keith (Erica) Johnson and nieces Barbara (Norman) Waitt, Glenda (Francis) Maltais, and Heather (Barry) Watson.

She was predeceased by her husband Keith, brothers and sisters-in-law Alan and Dorothy Shay and Jack and Bev Shay, brother-in-law Glenn Riddell, sister-in-law Evelyn Johnson and nephew Bob Johnson.

Betty attended Oxbow High School and business school in Brandon. She married Keith Riddell on November 25, 1950 in Oxbow, Saskatchewan.  After her marriage she moved to Swan River working as a bookkeeper for Macdonald’s Consolidated and later as part time bookkeeper for Riddell’s Plumbing and Heating.  She was a committed mother and homemaker to her husband and three children always contributing to whatever activities they were involved in.  She invested herself in the community:  Curling Club, Order of the Royal Purple, Band Booster Club, Music and Drama Festival, and town events such as Homecoming.  She seemed always to be at the helm, on the executive, organizing and coordinating.  Betty also had a wonderfully creative side taking up oil painting in her adult life.  She loved to perform and was always creating humorous skits or could throw together a poem with ease to celebrate special events of family and friends.  She delighted in her great grandchildren always playing and engaging them in silly made up songs.

Betty and Keith spent fifteen winters in Apache Junction, Arizona enjoying golfing and the friendships of other snowbirds.  Summers saw family and friends gather at the family cabin at Madge Lake with Betty a welcoming hostess serving food but also lots of laughter.

Betty was full of energy around people and deeply valued her friendships. She was always joking and laughing and brought a lot of joy to others.

A celebration of life service was held at St. Andrew’s United Church in Swan River on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Kathy Highmoor officiating. Inurnment followed in the Birchwood Cemetery, Swan River, Manitoba.

Should friends so desire, memorial donations in Betty’s memory may be made to the Community Foundation of Swan Valley Foundation.

Swan Valley Funeral Services

363 Kelsey Trail

Swan River, Manitoba

204-734-5775  www.swanvalleyfuneralservices.com

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