Obituary of Betty Christensen

June 4, 1926 - Stavely, Alberta
June 20, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Elizabeth “Betty” Christensen (nee Angel) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2022, at the age of 96 years.

‘Remember me with smiles and laughter
For that’s the way I remember you all.
If you can only remember me with tears and sadness,
Then don’t remember me at all.’
Michael Landon

Betty was born in Stavely, AB, on June 4, 1926. The family farmed near Table Butte. She moved with her parents many times, before ending up in Calgary for her high school education at Crescent Heights and St. Mary’s.

Betty attended Normal School for teacher training in Calgary in 1944 after graduating from high school. After teaching in a one room school outside of Provost, she attended university in Edmonton for more teacher training. Betty then went on to teach in one room schools in Chancellor and Cluny. 

After moving to Calgary in 1964, she went back to work at a number of different jobs. Once her children had grown up, she had gone back to secretarial school. Betty’s favourite job was her manager position at Grand and Toy, where she worked for thirteen years. 

Betty loved people and was outgoing and friendly to everyone, making friends wherever she went. She always had an interest in her family history and was proud that her Monkman relative was involved in Alberta’s history through the discovery of Monkman Pass. She enjoyed any opportunity to meet up with her McKinnon and Angel relatives over the years.

Being an only child, Betty felt that marrying into the Christensen family was a wonderful experience, as she gained so much by having a large family and community around her. Betty was particularly proud of being the curling skip on the Chancellor women's team and winning in Gleichen one winter. She also had a great love for music and learned piano as a child. Her parents were both musical, her father played violin and her mom the piano, and Betty loved the wonderful evenings full of music. She would sometimes play at dances during the war. Betty had a love of reading and inspired others to read. Betty also loved to travel, geography being an interest. After retiring, she travelled to the UK, Europe, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, and many places in the US.

Betty is survived by her former spouse Howard Christensen, sons, Colin Christensen (Robyn Benner), and Kevin Christensen (Rose Amar); daughter Shirley Berry (Bob Ryans), daughter-in-law Sandra Christensen, grandchildren, Dion, Shawn, and Josh Clarke, Kimberley Christensen, and Connor and Dane Christensen, Kristian and Kasey Christensen; and nine great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends. Betty was predeceased by her son Daryl Christensen of Rathdrum, Idaho on March 5, 2022.
 
At Betty’s request there will be no funeral service, but a family gathering will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Calgary Meals on Wheels, (403) 243-2834, www.mealsonwheels.com or the Bethany Care Society, (403) 210-4611 https://bethanyseniors.com/get-involved/donate/.

In living memory of Betty Christensen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.