REW
Betty
July 2, 1926 - May 8, 2019
Betty Read was born July 2, 1926 at the High River Hospital to Anthony and Catherine Read. In 1928 the family of four including brother Jack Derry, moved to Craigmyle and opened up the Read Hardware store. Betty attended the Craigmyle School for all her schooling. In March of 1944 she had to quit school and run the hardware store as both her parents were in hospital in Hanna and her brother was serving overseas. She had to take one more course, French, the next school term to get enough credits to graduate. While taking this course she worked for Mr. Innes at his grocery store in Craigmyle. Upon getting her credits it was off to Calgary to attend nursing school. She quickly made a lifelong friend, Elsie Hayes, and also discovered nursing wasn’t for her. She soon got a job at the Royal Bank in Calgary. With luck, she was transferred out to the Hanna branch and was back home again. Betty boarded in Hanna while working at the bank. In 1954 she was the first employee from the Hanna branch to be promoted to a supervisor’s position in the Calgary office. Betty was engaged to Ken Rew at this time and her heart kept her in Craigmyle. On July 12, 1954 they were married at All Saints Anglican Church in Hanna. Betty was a town girl and life on the farm would prove interesting but she took it all in her stride. John was born in 1957 and Linda was born in 1960. Her life was spent taking care of her family. She was a member of the Eastern Star for 63 years and was a dedicated member of All Saints Anglican Church. Betty was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Catherine Read, her brother, Jack Derry and her husband, Ken Rew. She is survived by her two children, John (Joanne) and Linda (Lyle), numerous nephews and nieces and their families and many friends. Funeral Services for Betty will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. at the Craigmyle United Church, with lunch to follow in the church hall. If friends so desire memorial donations may be made to the Craigmyle Historic Society. Courtney-Winter’s Funeral Homes are in care of the arrangements.
