BETTY MARY WATKINS (FENSKE) -

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BETTY MARY WATKINS (nee FENSKE) 1940 - 2008 Suddenly on February 28, 2008 at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Betty Mary Watkins passed away at the age of 67. Left to mourn and cherish her memory are her son Gregory (Betsy) Kilbrai and her grandchildren Laura and Ryan of Winnipeg; sisters Lillian (Leo) Hart of Swan River, Manitoba and Florence (Richard) Holland of Kelowna, B.C.; brother Henry Fenski of Swan River; foster brother William (Linda) Galloway of Swan River; sister-in-law Carol Fenski of Swan River; nieces Cynthia (David) Wrate of Victoria, Nola (Fred) Klempner and their children Michelle and Shawna of Kelowna, Jocelyn (Lyle) Marchuk and their children Karrlyn and Karter of Bowsman, Manitoba, Jennifer (Chris) Zamzow and their children Bryn, Neva and Matthew of Minitonas, Manitoba, Christine (Clint) Buchholz of Campbell River, B.C., and Amber (Todd) Friesen of Kenville, Manitoba; nephews Dale (Joanne) Hart and their children Jordan and Caitlyn of Minitonas, Dwayne (Brenda) Galloway and their children Jared and Adam of Regina, Wade (Sarah) Galloway and their children Andrew and Carleen of Calgary; stepmother Meta Fenske of Winnipeg, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, former in-laws and their children and grandchildren, and friends. Betty was predeceased by her husband John Edward ( Ted ) Watkins in 1989 and her parents Robert (1978) and Katherine (1962) Fenske (nee Daudrich). Betty was born December 20, 1940, in Swan River, Manitoba and grew up in the nearby town of Minitonas. She was baptized as a teenager at First Baptist Church in Minitonas and graduated from Minitonas Collegiate. Betty moved to Winnipeg when she was 16 and worked at a bank, but she soon returned home after being diagnosed with diabetes. After working at a local locker plant, she returned to Winnipeg and worked in the office of a business machine company and then at Transair. From 1961 to 1977, Betty was married to George Kilbrai and attended Grant Park (now Whyte Ridge) Baptist Church. She enjoyed these years raising her family and advancing her career. Betty started working at the University of Manitoba in 1962 in the payroll department. She was promoted to Payroll Supervisor after several years. In 1982 she was promoted to Payroll Manager, a position she enjoyed until her retirement in 1995. Summer and Christmas holidays were often spent visiting family in her hometown, and Betty's home was always open for family visiting in Winnipeg. Betty's hobbies included reading and needlepoint. As a teenager, Betty was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a poorly understood disease in the 1950s. Throughout her lifetime, Betty endured countless challenges and prejudices associated with this disease, yet she was among the first generation of diabetics to celebrate advancements achieved from research: new treatments, new types of insulin, better syringes, and new glucose monitoring devices. She was blessed with kind and professional treatment by many physicians during her lifelong journey with diabetes as she endured seasons of retinopathy, neuropathy, Charcot's foot, osteoporosis, loss of toes, several fractures from falls, reduced vision and stroke. Since 2000, Betty relied on a wheelchair for mobility but her greatest desire to her very last day was living each new day independently. In 1977, Betty found her true love with John Edward ( Ted ) Watkins. The next many years were the happiest in Betty's life. Together she and Ted renovated and restored a three-storey turn of the century home on Grosvenor Avenue to its original decor and beauty, doing most of the work themselves. From rooftop to basement and inside and outside, every part of the house was reborn. Oak floors, oak and mahogany mantles, wainscoting, and ceiling beams gleamed throughout. Fresh wallpaper brightened up three floors, and oriental carpets, a Victorola, and other antiques made their home a true haven for Betty and Ted to express their gifts of hospitality with friends and family. When their house was just right, Ted and Betty celebrated their marriage at home in 1982. Their home was a favourite adventure destination for little nieces and nephews to explore and discover its many secrets: a hidden staircase, original maid call chimes , a juke box with 45s, magical radiators that pinged and hissed, a scary gas boiler room, and many niches that were perfect for hide and seek . The dining room sparkled when the special china was out for extra special celebrations for family and friends. Flowerbeds overflowed with bright red geraniums and the Manitoba flag greeted visitors. Betty and Ted enjoyed many outdoor adventures with friends and family, including camping trips in their tent trailer, skidoo trips, fishing trips, and vacations throughout Canada and US. Betty and Ted attended St. Andrew's River Heights United Church. Betty's beloved Ted suddenly passed away in 1989 at the age of 54. Grosvenor house was empty without Ted, and Betty soon moved to Whyte Ridge and attended Grant Memorial Baptist Church. At the start of her retirement in 1995, Betty moved from Winnipeg to Kelowna, where she renewed friendships with fellow classmates, town folk, and relatives who had relocated there. She also made many new acquaintances while she was a member at Trinity Baptist Church. She enjoyed traveling occasionally during these years and was able to visit Mexico, Israel, and Egypt. In July 2004, Betty moved from Kelowna to Westbank and enjoyed a view of beautiful Lake Okanagan each new day. Betty was married to Otto Kakoshke from December 2004 until he separated from her in August 2007. In August 2007, Betty moved to Winnipeg to enjoy the support and love of her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. Special thanks to the caring staff at her new apartment at Sturgeon Creek II for providing a touch of the elegance of Grosvenor house. As Betty wished, cremation has taken place. A memorial service to celebrate Betty's life will be held at 11:00 on April 15, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Minitonas. Private interment to follow for immediate family at Minitonas Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty's memory may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 0S6 or www.diabetes.ca. Jesus called her forward and said to her, Woman, you are healed from your infirmity. For indeed we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2008