Mrs. Betty Jane Nepjuk

After a prolonged struggle with deteriorating health, our mother Betth quietly passed away on the afternoon of Sunday, January 15. Betty Nepjuk (nee Newbold) was born on August 10, 1929, in what was then Port Arthur, but is now Thunder Bay, Ontario. Betty was predeceased by her parents, George and Emily Newbold (nee Wakefield), her beloved husband, Bill Nepjuk, brother, William Newbold, and sister, Joan Portelance. Left to cherish her memory are daughter Susan (David), son Tom (Elaine), son Jack (Janice), and daughter Pat. Betty also leaves behind 7 grandchildren: Mike, Rob, Julie, Amanda, Kelly, Elizabeth, and Pete; and 6 great-grandchildren: Sophia, Emmet, Lucas, Quinn, Dylan, and Brooke - all of whom brought her great joy in her last years. Finally, Betty has two surviving brothers: Frank (Tessie) Newbold and George "Bunny" Newbold, as well as her numerous nieces and nephews. Family was always very important to Betty, and throughout her long and varied life she created many warm memories with them that she spoke of with fondness right to the end.

Betty was the eldest of George and Emily's 5 children. Being children of the depression, she and her siblings did not have a lot of material belongings, but her parents made sure the family never had to do without. Betty spent a great deal of her childhood on her grandparents' dairy farm on Paquet Road in Part Arthur. As her own children grew up, Betty often shared many happy and funny memories with them of time spent at the farm with her uncles and cousins.As a teenager, Betty was an excellent student at Port Arthur Collegiate, excelling especially in math and enjoying time as a member of the school's drama club. Betty loved to spend her free time ice skating and socializing with her Aunt Connie, who was only a few years older than she. It was while attending a community dance with Connie, she met William (Bill), her future husband. Betty was an attractive young woman who had no trouble catching her man. They were married in October 1946 and began their life together in Port Arthur.

Betty and Bill's first child, Susan, was born in August 1947; followed by eldest son, Tom, in 1951; son, Jack in 1955; and finally, youngest daughter, Pat, in 1957. During the 1950's, Betty and Bill lived in Port Arthur, then Lacombe, Alberta, and Berrien Springs, Michigan, while Bill completed his college education.

In June 1960, the Nepjuks moved to Saskatoon, where Bill took an administrative position with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. This move was shortly followed by another in December of that year to Moncton, New Brunswick, where Bill became a senior administrator with the church. Betty and Bill lived in Moncton with their family until June 1967, when they relocated back to Saskatoon. Betty first worked outside the home while living in Michigan, when she worked as a nurse's aide in a pediatric unit at a hospital in St. Joseph. Betty enjoyed working in a hospital environment, and she continued to do so in Moncton, Saskatoon, and finally in Winnipeg.

Betty and Bill absolutely loved Saskatoon and continued to live there until Bill received his final work transfer from the church in 1979. this last relocation was to St. John's, Newfoundland. They remained there until 1982, when Bill retired from his position with the church. Betty and Bill moved back to Saskatoon, where Bill worked for the provincial government until his sudden, premature death in 1983.

Wanting to be closer to her daughters after the death of her husband, Betty moved to Winnipeg for 5 years, until she decided to return to Thunder Bay to spend more time with brothers and their families. She had great times with them, motor-homing to Florida and throughout southern America.

In 2000, Betty decided it was time to finally settle in Winnipeg, where she could once again be close to her daughters and their families. The next couple of decades were a great time of life for Betty as she divided her time between her kids' home in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Pugwash. Her boys certainly loved having her visit and spend extended time with them, and included her in all their activities, forming lasting memories for both Betty and her grandchildren. Betty also loved to travel, and throughout her golden years she traveled to England, France, Indonesia, Hawaii, and from coast to coast in Canada. Betty often remarked that she should write a book of her experiences, especially of those days as a young mother moving across the country numerous times.

In 2017, Betty made the decision to move from her condo into the home of her eldest daughter, Susan, who did a wonderful job of helping mom to transition from independent to assisted living. Unfortunately, in January 2020, Betty suffered a stroke that necessitated her move into a nursing home. When COVID struck in March of that year, the isolation had a very negative effect on Betty. Over the next few years, her health continued to decline, dementia crept in, and it all culminated in her passing on January 15 of this year.

Betty was a stron, independent, faith-filled, and family-oriented woman. Throughout Bill's time working as a pastor and administrator with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, she met many people from across the country who became her fast friends. She was a caring mother who taught her children to be independent, resourceful, and raise close families of their own. She gave and received much love inthe course of her long life. Her final resting place will be with her husband, Bill, in Thunder Bay.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Betty's Life will take place at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff of Donwood Manor for their care, love and support.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Betty's name to a charity of your choice.