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Elizabeth Ann “Betsy” Hall (nee Wiggins), 65 of Newdale, MB passed away at the Minnedosa Health Centre on Saturday May 1, 2021.
Betsy was born October 10th, 1955 in Winnipegosis MB to Ernest and Margaret Wiggins. Most of her childhood was spent on a farm on Red Deer Point just north of Winnipegosis where she attended elementary and high school. She was the youngest daughter of nine children. As a child and teenager she loved the farm and working outside with the animals. She especially enjoyed working with and riding horses. She would climb up on the backs of the chore horses and pull the harness on them as she was too small to lift it on.
In 1973, she married Cliff Toews. They established their own farm close to her parents where they raised their three daughters: Wendy, Sandi and Carmen. On the farm, they raised cattle and commercial ice fished in partnership with Uncle Jim Wright. Along with cattle and fishing the family raised and showed horses. Winters were spent out on the ice fishing and calving cows. Summers were for haying and going to the fairs with the girls and their ponies. Betsy enjoyed many weekends taking her daughters to fairs and watching them show their horses while she also participated in the evening barrel racing.
In 1988, Betsy and the girls moved to town. There she got a job working at the hotel and grocery store while she took a course in counselling and mental health. She then worked for Residential Services in Winnipegosis until her girls had all left home to go to university. In 1995, she moved to Dauphin to live with and help her mother after her dad had had a stroke. She then started a job cooking at Smitty’s Restaurant which she enjoyed. Shortly after, she met Royce literally by accident. Both were in the Community Hotel one evening. Betsy with friends, sat with her back to the pool table. Royce was taking a shot along a rail, the ball catapulted forward off the horn and clipped the top of Betsy’s right shoulder wiping out the table full of beer. Royce apologized and from that point they crossed paths in their daily activities quite often. One night Royce was looking for a friend to spare in a Revco League game and asked Betsy if she had seen him. Royce invited Betsy to come to the Boulevard Hotel to watch the games that evening. Betsy’s nephew Gordie Sandgren knew Royce and that evening tried to introduce them – “I’d like you to meet my Auntie, she’s a good woman” – Royce replied that “we’ve met”. Shortly after a relationship started and they married on July 19, 1997. Along with Betsy came her cate “Dirtball”. They move into their own home and after a while Betsy changed jobs to work for Dial a Maid where she took great pride in her job. She loved a clean house and prided herself on her ability to be able to clean anything until it looked new, which her clients greatly appreciated.
One of her greatest joys was her yard. She would work for hours perfecting her flower beds, ponds, and outdoor fish during the day. She was featured in the newspaper as garden of the week because of her beautiful yard. Betsy dug a 50 foot creek by hand and Royce dug a pond at the end. They lined the creek/pond with a single sheet of rubber waterproofing it. For a couple of years, they added fish and soon the babies started being born in the creek. The fish were taken indoors for the winter in several size tanks up to 150 gallon in size for the big 6” goldfish. Around the creek and pond were many flowers and lilies were her favorite. About 10 years into their marriage, Betsy located her sister Helen who had just moved from Williams Lake, BC to Burnaby. Betsy and Royce paid her a visit, met her daughters Tammy and Audrey, stayed a couple days, and from that trip made another 25 trips every two months. The trips were amazing, and Betsy could hardly wait for the next one. Betsy and Royce also made a few trips south of the border for shopping and visiting casinos. Betsy and Royce also went to Winnipeg for Shriner’s events- with each Potentates Ball, Betsy bought a new evening gown as a treat and loved the formal banquets. Royce served on the Director’s Staff and served as Director’s Staff President for 5 consecutive years 2011-2015.
When Betsy met Royce, about the same time, she met Rhonda Porter who had a Hobby Farm west of Dauphin. Betsy would go out to her farm frequently and help with chores and go horseback riding. Betsy bought a new saddle (sized to fit her small frame). Betsy and Rhonda would River Raft in Betsy’s 4 man rubber dingy down the Vermillion River from 4th Ave. bridge to Vermillion Park. Royce dropped them off and picked them up at the other end. At Winnipegosis 100th Anniversary Betsy and Rhonda did the river race. The two gals finished the race in first place and beat the rest by over an hour.
Betsy’s lifestyle was affected by her friends finding her after she married Royce and daily morning coffee in the back yard gazebo and in the evenings, 4-6 friends playing cards and enjoying treats and beverages. Royce worked selling on eBAy for a past-time – in 2020 completed 20 years and is still at it. The time on the computer gave Betsy time for herself. Betsy and Royce over the years took in 3 rescued dogs. First was a 135-pound Golden Shepherd “Six”. He was a guard dog and adapted to his new home. Down the road a bit Betsy received a call from her daughter Wendy who just rescued a 10-month-old little black pug – she told Betsy she would be “A good friend for Royce”. Betsy went for her and was home in 15 minutes with little “Missey” who fitted right in pretty well taking over the house. Six was also taken aback a bit as Missey occasionally growled at Six and Six backed off. Betsy took on a disability and applied and fought for CPP Disability and without lawyers willing to plead her case, Royce assisted and it was a done deal. After a home invasion they decided to move from Dauphin. They adopted another German Shepherd – Bob fitted in well.
In 2010, Betsy and Royce bought a house in Newdale, MB with a ¾ acre fenced yard where she enjoyed getting it established and gardening until her health made it too difficult to keep up the work. They had a big deck on the front of the house where they enjoyed daily visiting with friends and family.
She is survived by her husband, Royce Hall. Her children: Wendy (Jim) Harder, Sandi (Shayne) Cooper, and Carmen McMaster. Her grandchildren: Kaiden Cooper, Nicolas, Andrew, and Harris McMaster. Her stepchildren: Royce’s son Randy (3 children), his daughter Danielle and granddaughter Jeannie. Her siblings: James (Elsie) Wiggins, Helen Kurbatoff, Frances Pillipow, Beatrice Sandgren, Larry (Linda) Wiggins, Ronnie (Christine) Wiggins, Margaret (Dennis) Kristjanson, Bill (Jan) Wiggins plus many nieces, nephews, great – nieces and great - nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Ernest and Margaret Wiggins, her brother Patrick Wiggins, brother – in law Ken Sandgren, and brother – in – law Paul Pillipow.
From the photo array( will be posted asap) you can see Betsy lived a happy life. Lots of excitement and a good life & a happy life. Though sadly missed this one liner says it all – HAPPY TO MEET, SORRY TO PART & HAPPY TO MEET AGAIN!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Khartum Shriner’s Transportation Fund. Shriner’s have handicapped children’s hospitals and treat children free and as well provide free transportation to and from the hospital that will treat the child. This is made possible from the generous donations coming in steady.
NO MAN STANDS SO TALL AS HE WHO STOOPS TO HELP A HANDICAPPED CHILD
Khartum Shriner’s Transportation Fund
1155 Wilkes Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3P 1B9
In accordance with Betsy's wishes cremation will take place and a service will be held at a later date.
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