Obituary of Helen Thompson

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our mom, Helen "Betty" Elizabeth Thompson, a resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the age of 96 years. Mom passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side.

Helen was born on January 18, 1926 in Calgary, Alberta, to parents Albert & Helen McEwen. She was the first child of four children. She has two sister’s Cecila and Marion, and one brother Larry. They moved to Hanna, Alberta, then Coleman, Alberta, where they spent their growing up years.

She had tried to join the Canadian Army at 17 but was told she had to wait to join until her 18^th birthday. Betty was stationed in Ontario, loving the structure of the army training and being able to serve her country. She was proud to be given the chance to serve from 1944-1946 and would not second guess to do it again. After the war had ended, she ventured out and began working. Meeting a suitor, she married and had her first child, Barbara. A couple years later, that marriage ended. Betty went to work at a camp in southern Alberta, where she oversaw the kitchen, preparing all meals for about 30 men.

During that time, she met Roy Thompson. He became the love of her life. Moving to Dawson Creek, B.C. in 1956, they continued to grow their family with five more children. Our mom was a stay-at-home-mom & wife (domestic engineer). Her days were full of chores but also filled with delicious homemade hearty meals, baked breads, cinnamon buns as big a dinner plate, cookies, or other family favorite recipes all from scratch! Surely that made her neighbors envious from the fragrance that would waft through the air.

Another love of Betty’s was time spent in her gardens, whether it was vegetables or flowers, or her many house plants. There were many trips that were taken to the greenhouse with her daughters that lived nearby, and sometimes her hubby Roy. Our parents loved the outdoors. We had many Sunday drives, picnics, and camping trips with all the family, even the pets. When her youngest child started school, Betty went to work outside the home. First, she was at the Copenhagen Bakery, then the Co-op Bakery. She loved her work and took great pride in baking tasty treats for many patrons to enjoy. She received many compliments on her creative recipes, earning her the nickname “The Doughnut Queen.”

Betty enjoyed participating in the ex-service women’s group and travelling to join others. She attended the Rolla Church and like-minded events, also involved with the CNIB luncheons.

Betty was predeceased by her parents Albert & Helen, her husband Roy, brother Larry, and grandson Christopher. She will always be lovingly remembered for what she taught and shared with her family, friends, and anyone in her life that she had touched.

Betty is survived by daughters Leslie (Len) Graham, Sandra Thompson, Barbara (Lomax); son’s Brian (June), Gary (Brenda), Darrin (Ellen); grandchildren Susanna (Craig) Senay, Krystal Thompson, Michelle (Matt) Donovan, Aaron, Jamie, Parker, Spencer, Brayden (Kaitlyn), Karissa (Alex), Tiernan, Xander; great-grandchildren Taylor, Emily, Lindsay, Milo, Elliot, Connor & others yet to be delivered. We will miss making memories with her but the many memories we have will be shared through all of us! Until we meet again!

A Graveside Service will be held for Helen on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 1:00pm in Brookside Cemetery, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Pauline Haycock will officiate. 

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Helen to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Box 9410 STN Terminal, Vancouver, BC, V6B 9Z9 or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #141 (Dawson Creek), 10200 8th St, Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 3P8.

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium