ELIZABETH (BETTY) NEWFELD

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ELIZABETH (BETTY) NEWFELD On Monday, April 13, 2009 Betty Newfeld passed away at the Health Sciences Centre, at the age of 82 years. Elizabeth was born in Orloff, Zagradovka Mennonite Settlement on July 2, 1926. The family immigrated to Canada later the same year, settling first in Wolseley, Saskatchewan. In the spring of 1930 the family relocated to Niverville, in southern Manitoba where her grandparents had settled. Betty, a tomboy according to her brothers whom she followed around, often into trouble, enjoyed her childhood. Her memories of this happy time were the grist for her book, The Singing Kettle, which she wrote, illustrated and published in 1997. After finishing school Elizabeth, like many young Mennonite women at the time, moved to Winnipeg to find work. She settled in with the Dawson family who took her under their wing, paying her tuition at Angus Business College and providing lodging in exchange for light duties. Elizabeth subsequently followed an office career which had her working in a number of well known Winnipeg businesses - D. Ackland and Son, British-American Oil and the Canadian Automobile Association among others. Although she remained single, she was diligent in seeking fulfillment through her artistic abilities. Elizabeth was a talented artist. A prolific painter, she was also an innovative promoter of her work. She made an arrangement with Ben Berman to keep the walls of his Modern Upholstery showroom filled with her paintings which people purchased along with their furniture. She also was proud to have one of her paintings in the Winnipeg Art Gallery's 1969 Manitoba Society of Artists show. Aunt Betty retained a strong interest in her extended family. At family gatherings she always brought along an art project for her young nieces and nephews, her flash camera capturing the ensuing activity. Elizabeth took early retirement and moved from painting to writing. She became an avid researcher of both family and Manitoba history, producing numerous stories and articles, her youthful memoir and an extensive and thorough family genealogy which included still more family stories. She remained indebted to the Winnipeg Centennial Library and the Canadian Authors Association for the encouragement and development of her two book projects. Her enthusiasm and energy will be greatly missed. Predeceased by her parents Abram and Kathrine Neufeld and her eldest brother Frank, Elizabeth is survived by her sister Katie Bock (John), brother Dietrich (Nettie), sister Charlotte Lepp (Con), numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street, Winnipeg. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to McClure United Church Mission, 533 Greenwood Place, Winnipeg, MB, R3G 3M1.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 16, 2009