Elizabeth Muriel Wallace

Elizabeth (Betty) Muriel Wallace (nee Strang) passed away in her sleep, 28th Aug 2023 Age 94.
Betty was born 24th July 1929 to Gavin Strang Jr and Eileen Ann Strang (nee O’Neill) in Dauphin Manitoba Canada, adding another generation to the Pioneers of Dauphin.
Betty grew up in Dauphin and graduated from business school to work in Bank of Nova Scotia and then Senior Clerk at Department of Agriculture and even did a stint running her dads construction company when her father was ill.
Horses were Betty life, and she was always on the back of one or driving another.   She had been offered a job to train horses in Winnipeg for future Olympians but stayed in Dauphin to be near family.  Her winter sport was curling when it was too cold to ride.
In 1958 while riding over to visit a neighbour, she crashed head on into a man with an unruly Standardbred, her mare reared, knocked her on her backside in the dirt and they had a few choice words with each other.  Betty met her future husband, a few weeks later 15 Aug 1958 they were married.  
That fall Bettys and Jim headed for Quebec to race horses. Jim’s wedding present was to transfer his horse Grattan Baker into Betty’s name.  Grattan Baker set a world record 5miles on the trot and began her new love of Standardbreds and pedigree tracing.
They returned to Manitoba in the winter for 1959, eventually bought a farm made a home on highway 20, outside of Dauphin.    Sharon was born in 1960 and Clarke in 1961.   They settled to farming, showing horses and raising world class sheep and goats.  Jim went back to racing in 1971. In 1974 Betty made another mark on the world becoming the first female president of Canadian Sheep Breeder Assoc and possibly Canada.   To the day she died she could tell you the pedigree of every horse they showed or raced and sheep on the farm.
Betty and Jim with started 3-D Saddle Club, mentors and judges of many generations of horseman and women and as the kids grew, Betty became leaders for 4-H (both horse and sheep), Rifle Club and Pony Club as well as entering items in the Horticultural shows like your mother before her and teaching her grandchildren all about nature and gardening.   In later life after Jim and Betty retired, she showed Clarke’s Clydesdale horses for many years until arthritis stopped her, then it was propagate geraniums and petunias and making sure the there was always enough potatoes, she never stopped. She watched the video proudly of Clarke and Mitchell’s wins at Minnesota State fair the day before she passed.
Betty only had 2 children, but she always had a half a dozen by mealtime.  Jimmy always told people he would be a rich man if my wife didn’t drag in and feed every stray in Western Canada. It’s a good thing she had a huge garden and always lamb in the freezer.    The coffee was always on.  Horse, sheep, goat advice was always free and you could get a bit to eat no matter the time of night or day. 
Betty was preceded by her husband Jim in 1994, Parents Gavin Jr, Eileen, brothers Howard and Allen, sister-in-law Ann and brother-in-law Joe Matergio. 
She leaves to mourn her daughter Sharon and husband Ian Storm (Melbourne Australia), granddaughter Shandar Stormland and husband Ryan and granddaughter Emmalee both in Australia,  Son Clarke and wife Sherry (Dauphin MB) grandchildren Brandy and Mitchel (Winnipeg MB).  Sister Edith Matergio (Stittsville ON) and her family, Sister-in-law Vicky Strang (Allen) (Edmonton AB), numberous Strang, O’Neill and Wallace, cousins, nieces and nephews and extended family. Family was not just blood it was everyone that ever stepped into that old house for advice, help or just a cup of coffee.
Betty’s legacy will be those people she inspired to reach beyond the stars to be the best they could be.
In lieu of flowers we would ask that a donation be paid to the Friends of Riverside, in Betty’s name to go towards the restoration of Pioneer graves at Riverside Cemetery care of Alan Gray  - thegrays@mymts.net
 

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