Obituary of Elizabeth Jane Crossman
June 5, 1931 – July 19, 2018
Our amazing mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend surprised us all on Thursday, July 19, 2018 by deciding that would be the day she would reunite with the love of her life, Bing.
Born in Harris, Saskatchewan to Sarah and James O’Malley in 1931, she was the sister to Etty and James (Jim) O’Malley. Life in Harris for a young Betty was never dull as she found plenty of things to occupy her time after all the chores were done. Her flowing red hair caught the eye of a young Saskatchewan Wheat Pool construction worker and the courtship was soon on. Betty married Bing Crossman in 1950. With Harris still as home base, Betty became the cook for Bing’s elevator crew and travelled throughout Saskatchewan building elevators, friendships and memories together.
The travelling ended for Betty with the arrival of Lesley in 1954. Home in Harris became an old train station that Bing moved into town and renovated. Brenda arrived in 1957, Linda in 1958, and Percy in 1961.
Bing was promoted to Head office with the Pool in 1965, so the family moved to the big city of Regina. Betty soon developed new life long friends in Regina with her involvement with her children and curling. After Bing’s passing she moved to Calgary in 2015, once again creating new friendships at her home in Lake Bonavista Village. Not something to be overlooked was the fact that although she moved from Harris over 50 years ago, she was proud to be a Harris girl after all those years.
Betty loved to keep busy with curling, sewing, gardening, her magnificent flower beds, and canning to name a few.
Her love for Bing, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren was without boundaries and unconditional, shaping all of us in how to live life.
Betty was predeceased by her husband Bing (Ronald); her sister Etty and brother James. She was also predeceased by many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Betty will be remembered by her daughters, Lesley (Glen Allen), Brenda (Roger Verhelst), Linda (Colleen Sutherland); son Percy (Colleen Crossman); grandchildren, Danielle and Andrew Kuffner, Sarah and Ryan Russell, Nicole and Curtis Klatt, Daniel and Natalie Verhelst, Dylan Verhelst and Kelly Post, Sydney St. James and Blaine Kovacik, Ryan St. James and Miranda Lisowski, Julie Crossman and Travis Ell, Gina and Robert Crossman; great-grandchildren, Jace and Jordan Kuffner, Lucas, Addison and Evan Russell, Tori Trudel, Trace Klatt, Theodore and Blair Verhelst. She will also be remembered by the treasured relationships she had with her many nephews and nieces.
Our family would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff who made Lake Bonavista Village a home for Mom while she lived there. They all took extremely good care of her in meeting her every need. It is a place filled with happiness, music, and joy thanks to all of them. Mom was proud to be at “home” there.
Celebration of Life will be held at Speers Family Center, 2333 Cornwall Street, Regina, SK on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be held in Harris, SK at the Harris Cemetery on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.
If desired, memorial donations may be made in Betty’s name to Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund at JDRF Calgary, 1725 10 Avenue SW, Suite 300, Calgary, AB T3C 0K1 or online at www.jdrf.ca/donate/in-memory-donation
