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ELIZABETH ANN GYLES
Born: Jun 12, 1928
Date of Passing: Oct 28, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryELIZABETH ANN GYLES
Loved by her four children, Bill (Darlene), Lauren, Grant (Karen), and Don (Meg); ten grandchildren, Amanda (Jeff), Raphe, Hallie, Petra (Graham), Tiffany (Jai), Liz (Sean), Jay, Geordie (Cynthia), Dylan, and Daly (Nick); and nine great- grandchildren; Betty was the true matriarch of the clan. Predeceased by Harold, her husband of 59 years; her son Rick and daughter Shelley; her parents, Bill and Elizabeth Armstrong; and siblings, Bill, Bob, and Barb. Betty outlived her beloved Queen Elizabeth.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Betty trained as a registered nurse at St. Boniface Hospital. According to Betty, she was a model student, except on those occasions when she wasn’t. Betty met Harold in her late teens and they married in 1951. She loved nursing, but soon after graduation took a hiatus to raise her five perfect children. She also welcomed into the family her twin nephews from Trinidad, Alan and Junior.
As a child, Betty spent summers at her grandparents’ and parents’ cottages at Lake of the Woods. In 1961 she and Harold bought their cottage on Keewatin Beach Road. This was her happy place. Betty spent every summer at Ken-O-Kee Lodge until poor health prevented her from going. There, she and Harold had a close community of life-long friends including the Jones, Pughs, and Hardies. They permanently moved to the cottage after retirement. After her nursing career, Betty started a pie business, supplying Keewatin restaurant My Place with desserts. She was affectionately known around Kenora as “the Pie Lady”.
Betty was always welcoming to the many friends and stragglers that passed through the family home and cottage. She had a great sense of humour and loved to socialize. She was extremely loyal to her husband and her children, despite their many flaws. Betty loved to play games; board games, cards, whatever. She loved to win and was always a good sport.
Betty was an avid hunter, joining Harold and her cousin Diane on many hunting trips. She was a very good curler, skipped a ladies’ team, served as President of the Womens’ Curling League at the Highlander Curling Club, and participated in numerous mixed bonspiels. As a young woman, she skied, sailed, fished, and golfed. She loved swimming and boating on Lake of the Woods. Betty and Harold were active members of the Gyro Club, attending many functions and conventions.
Following her brother Bob’s death, Betty rekindled her friendship with her sister Barb in Ottawa. They Skyped daily and talked about nothing and everything. They were kindred spirits. Barb’s death in 2019 left a void in Betty’s life that was never filled.
Betty was a self-sufficient, independent woman with many talents. She was well-liked by everyone who met her and wasn’t judgemental. She loved her family dearly, always putting them first. She will be sorely missed, but has left us with many, many fond memories.
We would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Salvation Army Golden West Centennial Lodge for their kind and loving care.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 08, 2025
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
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To Bill, Lauren, Grant, Donald & Families We share deeply in the sadness of your loss. We were the fortunate “unrelated” Gyles family who were welcomed so often—both in Winnipeg and at Ken-O-Kee Lodge. Those summers felt endless, and as children we were always embraced in your home and cottage, staying for what seemed like countless days. Betty was never rattled by eleven kids running around, piling in for sleepovers, or adding “just one more” to the dinner table. We hold such wonderful and lasting memories of those times, and we will always remember Betty and the warmth of your close-knit family. With our sincerest condolences, Ced, Pat, Marti, Ed, John & Peter Gyles - Posted by: Marti Williams (Friend) on: Nov 21, 2025
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Our condolences to the entire Gyles clan on the passing of Betty. Many great memories flow from a myriad of Gyro social functions. May you rest in peace Betty. - Posted by: Craig Cormack (Friend) on: Nov 11, 2025
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Deepest sympathies to the Gyles family. I worked with Don for quite a few years and heard lots of wonderful stories of your family. Your Mom and Dad raised a great family . It’s wonderful she was blessed with a long life to enjoy her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hugs Don and Meg and family. - Posted by: Colleen Boutang (Co worker of Don) on: Nov 09, 2025
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Betty Gyles was a dear friend of the Goodhand family, Dr. Tom and Loreen (who also had five perfect children), and will be fondly remembered by all of us. A life well-lived by a lovely human being. - Posted by: Margo Goodhand (Family friend) on: Nov 08, 2025
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My family had the fortune of being neighbours on Keewatin Beach Road starting in 1961 until 1967. Our family bought the last cottage available when Ken O Lee Lodge tourist camp was sold. Mrs. Gyles must have been everyone's favourite, I know she was mine. We would spend the summers hanging out with the kids of all the families at Ken O Kee. It was a wonderful time and place to spend summers during my childhood and adolescence. It was like a commune ahead of its time there with all the families and lots and lots of kids. We would all seem to congregate at the Gyles on rainy days and play board games when we couldn't be outside. I remember I always called her Mrs. Gyles until she gave me a look one day and told me to call her Betty. So it was then Betty after that. She was one of the finest people I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I want to pass on my condolences to all the Gyles Family, Betty will be missed by anyone who had ever met her. We were all so lucky to have grown up in that era and had someone as fine as Betty Gyles in our lives - Posted by: Rob St Mars (Ken O Kee Neighbour) on: Nov 08, 2025
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Dear cousins, Sorry for your loss, you were the luckiest, growing up with the best Mom! She was also a wonderful Aunt Betty. Very well written tribute to her. Love, Ellen - Posted by: Ellen Nothstein (Cousin) on: Nov 08, 2025