Roberts, Elizabeth (Beth)
Dec 14, 1931 - Jan 15, 2007
Beth Roberts passed away peacefully at Glacier View Lodge on January 15, 2007.
Although she lost her battle with dementia, she did not suffer pain, unhappiness or anger and was able to see all of her children in her last hours.
Beth was married to Dell, her high school sweetheart, for 54 years. They met at a church choir picnic and she took good care of him. For the last few years they reversed roles and he cared for her.
After school they were married and Dell went to work with the Northern Alberta Railroad. Beth followed him wherever the railway took them and raised their children. Dale (Maureen Fritz-Roberts) was born in Peace River; Barb, (Blain Dixson) was born in Berwyn a year later; Della (Dan Grant) was born in Fort McMurray and Tammy (Jordan Peterson) was born in Fairview.
When the family settled in Fairview, Beth took a job with the CIBC then became the payroll and accounting clerk for the Fairview School Division. After her retirement, she and Dell moved to the Comox Valley to help Dale and Maureen with their business. Beth threw herself into the new community: golfing, square dancing, painting, gardening, playing bridge, making scores of friends and helping to organize anything that needed her.
Beth’s greatest passion, however, was her family, including 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She expected great things of them and was ferocious in their defense.
Beth was a child of the Depression, born in Viking, Alberta to George and Emily Drysdale. Over the years she lost her father, her older sister Grace and younger brother Robert to cancer and her younger sister June to ALS. She is survived by her husband, children, numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren and her mother, Emily Charlton, aged 94 and living in Westlock, Alberta.
She was a shy and humble person who made lifelong friends. She was extremely accomplished in anything to which she turned herself; especially sports, where she excelled at curling, golf and fastball. Beth had a boundless energy and was referred to by friends of her children as ‘the White Tornado’. Her grandchildren say she baked the best “Hermit” cookies this side of the Rockies.
Beth will be cremated, as she desired. A Celebration of Beth’s life will be held at the Comox Valley Funeral Home on Ryan Road in Courtenay, BC on Saturday, January 20 at 2:00pm, with a reception to follow in the Garden Room. Donations to the charity of your choice in her remembrance would be appreciated, especially to the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society.