Betty Foulds

On November 28, 2023, Betty’s youngest daughter, Gaye, helped her to enjoy a lovely lunch. She was helped to get settled in bed and she then closed her eyes to rest, followed by a calm, peaceful, and serene passing later that afternoon. She leaves behind a loving family to mourn her death, but to also celebrate that she is finally pain-free and has gone to join her husband, Robert (Bob) Foulds, and her parents, Gordon and Marion Clarke, who all predeceased her.

Betty is lovingly survived and remembered by her two devoted daughters, Valerie (Bryan MacLeod) and Gaye (Larry Peters), her beloved grandchildren Kendra and Kirk Olesen, Austin, Owen, and Benton Peters, most special twin great-grandchildren, Karsten and Winter Olesen, her dearest sister, Carol Feschuk, and her sisters-in-law Sandra, Yvonne, and Nora. She loved each of her nephews and nieces, their families, and special family friends, Wilf and Rita Peters and Tanya Wood.

Betty was also predeceased by her brother, Virgil Clarke, and his infant son, Curtis, her in-laws Miles Foulds and Lebina McDougall, her Foulds’ family brothers- and sisters-in-law (excepting Nora), and many other family members and dear friends.

The oldest of three siblings, Betty grew up on a family farm, close to Meota, SK. She told stories of the one-room schoolhouse down the road, helping her mother cook and bake at harvest time, listening in on the party line once the telephone was installed at the farm, dancing at neighbors’ homes and the town halls in the district, and the devotion she had to her family.

This devotion spilled over when she met Bob Foulds, and they were married on October 16, 1953. They moved to Saskatoon where Betty worked as a Ledger Keeper with the Toronto Dominion Bank. True partners, they worked toward building their own home, and this dream became a reality when the favoured Avalon lot was purchased, and construction began.

Betty enjoyed sewing, cooking, and baking and proudly filled the cold room with canned fruit and pickles and the freezer with vegetables and berries from the garden. She was a wonderful hostess, and there was always a bed and a good meal for visiting family and friends.

Third Avenue United Church was also a big part of Betty and Bob's lives. As active members, they enjoyed the fellowship of other young couples who became lifelong friends, with Betty becoming a member of the United Church Women’s group.

Betty was a championship Mother! She was involved in all her girls’ activities. She was a band Mother, on Parent Committees, and a willing driver to and from practices of all kinds. She sewed costumes, pinned wigs backstage, and was willing to stay up late to help with her kids’ studying or working on projects. Mom and Dad were the best cheerleaders and attended every game, play, or concert where their kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were involved.

When Bob was diagnosed with dementia, they moved to an assisted-living condominium. Betty took care of Bob until he needed an increased level of care. Sadly, Bob died in January 2011, and a big piece of her heart died along with him, but she “kept going”.

Over time, Betty required greater assistance with her own personal care. She received exemplary care from Tanya Wood, Home Care, Warm and Cozy and for the last year at Sherbrooke.

She was a woman of determination, and a really great sense of humour. She was smart and sassy, and she had very specific ideas about politics and what was right and wrong. But most of all, she had an incredible capacity to love. We were lucky to have loved her back as long as we could. We are going to miss you, Mom, but know you are in a better place.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 at Acadia Funeral Chapel (915 Acadia Drive, Saskatoon SK). For those unable to attend please visit www.faithproductions.ca/livestream to view the service. A lunch and fellowship will follow. The Inurnment will be performed at a private family gathering at 4:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers please support either the Sherbrooke Foundation (401 Acadia Drive Saskatoon, SK S7H 2E7) https://sherbrookefoundation.ca or the CNIB (1149 8 Street East Saskatoon, SK S7H 0S3) https://www.cnib.ca/en?region=sk

Arrangements entrusted to Thea Katchmar.