HELEN ELIZABETH (BETTY) FALCONER
July 2, 1925 - November 16, 2010

HELEN ELIZABETH (BETTY) FALCONER of Lethbridge, Alberta, beloved widow of recently deceased Dennis Falconer, passed away on November 16, 2010, at the age of 85 years.

Betty was born in Toronto, as were her mother, Florence Esther Rutherford (nee Greenwood), and her father, Gordon Campbell Rutherford. She was the oldest in a sibline of six.

She was a bright student, matriculating in 1942. As did many young women of the time, she traded city life for farm work, in support of the war effort, during the summer months.
In 1949, her father took a new teaching post in Calgary, and Betty moved to Calgary with the family. She met Dennis, and they were married on June 5, 1950. She fondly recalled hitchhiking in the Rockies for their honeymoon.

Soon thereafter, she moved with Dennis to Camp Shilo, Manitoba, where they lived for several years, during which time her two children were born. Several moves followed over the next two decades; the family lived in Brandon, Manitoba; Quebec City and Camp Valcartier, Quebec; Ottawa; and Camp Gagetown, NB. When Dennis retired in 1972, they moved to Calgary.
Betty had excellent skills, and worked full-time in various clerical or secretarial jobs until her children came along. Then, she often worked part time, usually in the Federal or various Provincial Public Services.
In 1999 she and Dennis moved to Lethbridge and bought their first house, to be closer to their grandchildren. They remained in their house until February of 2007, when declining health led to their move into the West Highlands Lodge.

In spite of the moving around, Betty had one constant location that was a source of many of her happiest memories - ""Woodwind"", a cottage built by her father in 1934, in the cottage country of Muskoka, Ontario. Rare were years when she would not spend a good part of the summer at the cottage, at first with parents and siblings, later with cousins, nephews, and nieces, and later still with husband and children. Even in her last days she expressed her fond memories of time at the cottage, and the hope - precluded by ill health - that she might be able to go back there. To honour that wish, her ashes will be laid to rest at Woodwind at a later date.

Betty was predeceased by her sisters Phyllis and Shirley. She is survived by her daughter Valerie (Brian) Rainey, and her son Gordon and daughter-in-law Mary, and four grandchildren: Tanya (Paul), James (Paula), Kenneth, and Sarah. She is also survived by three siblings: brother Dick, and sisters Jean and Nancy.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at MARTIN BROS. RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 4th Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff at West Highlands Lodge for the kind and attentive care given to Betty during her 3 ½ years there.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Good Samaritans, c/o West Highlands Lodge, 2687 Garry Dr. West. Lethbridge, AB T1J 5A3; or to the Alzheimer Society Lethbridge Chapter, #420 740 4th Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0N9.