MRS. ELIZABETH ""BETTY"" PURKIS of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Mr. Lloyd Charles Purkis, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at the age of 92 years.

Our very special mother, grandmother and great-grandmother was born on September 14, 1916 in Thorpe, Washington, the second daughter of Marion and Lottie Thompson. In 1920 she came to Canada with her family and settled on a farm south of Coaldale. Betty received her education in the Primary, Elementary and Consolidated Schools in Coaldale and Normal School in Calgary where she obtained her teaching certificate.

She taught for 6 years at various southern Alberta schools including Wilson School southeast of Lethbridge, the Plain Butte School near Shaughnessy, McMahon School, Hardieville School, Passburg School in the Crowsnest and Pincher Creek School.

Mom married Lloyd Purkis of Pincher Creek on July 28, 1940 and settled there to raise their four children. The Purkis family moved to Lethbridge in October 1956 where she became involved in Southminster United Church. She was a member of the choir from 1960 until 1995. She became assistant organist for Wilf Woolhouse playing for weddings, school graduations, Remembrance Day and Sunday Services. Betty joined the United Church Women's Tuesday Evening Group and received a life membership in 1976. She was also a Church trustee.

Mom's life passion was music. She had taken piano lessons throughout her school years in Coaldale and played for Church Services and minstrel concerts. In 1933 she took lessons from Ralph Johnson. She taught piano lessons in Pincher Creek and Lethbridge where she had a large number of pupils. Betty was involved in the dance band era being part of a dance band while she taught at Plain Butte School and the pianist for one year in the Cridland Dance Band in Pincher Creek with Lloyd. Betty was on the board of the Lethbridge Symphony Association for many years and was a season ticket holder for the symphony concerts. She also enjoyed watching her kids play in the Lethbridge Community Band concerts.

Betty is survived by her children Lloanne (Tony) of West Vancouver, Doug Purkis of Banff, Sue (Rod) MacKay and Trish Purkis of Lethbridge; four grandchildren Greg (Brandie) Walker of Calgary, Kendall (Veronica) Walker of Belmont, Mass., Lindsey (Will) Moncey of Pit Meadows, BC, and Doug (Sacha) Romanchuk of Edmonton; four great-grandchildren Harrison and Emerson Walker, Jackson Walker and Tessa Moncey.

Besides her loving husband Lloyd (1975), Betty was predeceased by her infant son Bruce in 1944; parents Marion and Lottie Thompson; sister Lottie-Belle Thompson, sister Anola Frederick, brother Marion Thompson Junior and father and mother-in-law Harry and Florence Purkis.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00pm, on Saturday, August 22, 2009, at the SOUTHMINSTER UNITED CHURCH, 1011 - 4 Ave., S., Lethbridge, AB, with Reverend Frank Lewis officiating.

Interment will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

For those who wish, Memorial Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 207, 542 - 7 St., S., Lethbridge, AB, T1J 2H1, or to the Canadian Cancer Society, 317 - 10 St., S., Lethbridge, AB, T1J 9Z9.