Obituary of Betty Croft

February 23, 1927 - Calgary, Alberta

June 30, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Betty Croft (nee Hickman), of Calgary AB, beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on Friday June 30, 2023, at the age of 96 years.

Betty was born in Calgary, AB, on February 23, 1927, where she was adopted by Lucy Hickman (Craddock) and moved to Sidewood, Saskatchewan. These early years on the farm, along with her older brother Roy and older sister Delphine, instilled in her a sense of responsibility, hard work, and community. Growing up on the farm with her siblings and mother, living on a widow’s WW1 pension, she soon learned the value of being an independent young woman who could provide for herself. One of her first paid jobs was selling Christmas cards farm to farm on horseback. Betty loved life on the farm in Sidewood, SK attending the one-roomed schoolhouse and living at times in the big city of Maple Creek, SK.

In 1939 at the age of 12 her mother sold the family piano, bought a car, and moved the family to Toronto ON, to enroll Roy into college. It was in Toronto that Betty’s eyes became wide open to the possibilities and opportunities even for a pre-teen schoolgirl from the farm. The shock of going from a small one room schoolhouse in Sidewood to a large high school in Toronto was too much for Betty and she decided to quit school at 15 and seek her fortune in the city. When she told her mother of her decision, her mother gave her 10 cents to hop on the trolley and go get a job. When Betty returned later in the day without a job her mother gave her another 10 cents to go back downtown. Betty triumphantly returned with a job cutting onions for Campbell Soup Company. During the war years she was employed by the Toronto Telegraph newspaper where she was a copy girl for the editors. Betty was working the tickertape on September 2, 1945, and was among the first to find out WWII had ended. She also wrote for her own column “The Girl in the Game” where she reported on woman’s semi-pro baseball games and may have been one of the first female sports writers in Canada. It was during her time at the Telegraph that she was noticed by the famous portrait painter Archibald Barnes, a prominent British/Canadian portrait painter, who insisted on doing her portrait, which was featured in a few newspapers in Toronto. This was most likely the catalyst that launched her modelling career. On the sage advice of her mother, she turned down an offer from Hollywood for a screen test and continued her modelling career in Toronto. One of her modelling gigs was for an owner of a fur coat boutique who introduced her to his nephew who was a rising American singer at the time by name of Tony Bennett. Upon introduction he proceeded to give her a kiss on the cheek which she never forgot and to her last day she was a lifelong Tony Bennett fan. It may even have had something to do with the name of her first son.

In 1949 she met Don who was from Toronto, and they married in 1953. In 1955 they welcomed their first-born son Anthony “Tony” followed by their second son John in 1959. Being a true working woman ahead of her time she started a new career with Avon and sold door-to-door with her young sons’ content and unsupervised in the back seat of the car. Eventually Don was transferred by his company to Calgary in 1962 to continue his career in pharmaceutical sales with Betty and family in tow. Betty continued her Avon career in Calgary where she quickly became an Area Manager and worked in that role for 35 years. Her Avon Reps were her extended family, where many long-term friendships were created. In addition to her Avon career, she worked for many years with the Calgary Woman’s Show and had many close working relationships there.

After Betty’s retirement in 1998 she entered the next phase of her life full of family, friendships, and travel. She was able to enjoy her special place at her condo in Scottsdale, AZ and made friends daily hanging out at the pool. Her Calgary friends are too numerous to mention but she was lucky to have cultivated many young friends who were more like daughters to her. Her very special friend Elaine has been at her side for the last 42 years. The family is so very grateful for her friendship and the support she has shown for our mom.

Betty spent the last seven years at the Scenic Acres Retirement home until she went “toes up” as she always joked about. One thing that stood out about Betty was her hats. She wore stylish custom-built hats all throughout her working career and continued to wear “fun” hats right to her last day. Betty always took great pride in her appearance, even as her eyesight declined, she always made sure she had on at least a little lipstick and blush, (Avon of course). Betty thrived under the care of nurses and aids at Scenic Acres, and she had special relationships with everyone who was lucky enough to care for her. The family cannot thank the Scenic Acres staff enough for everything they have done for Betty.

Betty had a fulfilling and happy life full of family and friends. She was able to provide for herself and her family, raise two sons, embrace her two daughters-in-law, and see her three grandsons grow up and become thriving men.

A life well lived; Gram Betty will be missed.

Betty is survived by her children, Tony (Marisa) Croft, and John Croft; and her grandsons, William (Sara), Samuel (Kirsten), and Michael (Andie). “Gram” Betty will also be missed by Brett Neaves and Matthew Neaves.

Betty was predeceased by her husband Don (AW) Croft in 1991 and her daughter-in-law Monica in 2018.

A Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held at Revera Scenic Acres (150 Scotia Landing NW, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM in the 3rd floor Chapel. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Betty Croft, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.