Obituary of Betty Ann Winnifred Perkins

“Time goes too fast when you are enjoying life and doing the things you enjoy doing, with the people you enjoy being with, then you don’t realize how fast time is going until you look back and you think where did it go?” – Betty Ann

Betty Ann Perkins
January 6, 1930 – August 27, 2019

Betty Ann was a truly great Mother, and an even better Nana.
She was predeceased by her father Gilford Helgeson; mother Winnifred Helgeson; and brother Gilford Helgeson. She is survived by her husband Ronald; sister-in-law Margaret; children Dale (Dereth) and Brian (Sharon); and grandchildren Jennavieve (Dorian), Madelyn (Jan), Victoria, Kallum (Keith), and Landon.
Betty Ann grew up in Prince Albert. It was there while attending PACI she met her high school sweetheart Ron. Betty Ann and Ron were instantly a perfect match. They married in 1951, and spent the next 68 years of life together.
Betty Ann achieved many things during her 89 years. As a new bride to a teacher, she learned to adapt and improvise. Upon marrying Ron their first home was located in Meadow Lake. There she was introduced to cooking with a wood stove and making ends meet on a modest teacher’s salary; neither of which she was accustomed to. After Meadow Lake, the pair moved to Sturgis, SK where they took residence in the dormitory affiliated with the high school. Betty Ann helped with the cooking and operation of the residence, while Ron continued to teach. The next stop in 1955 was Saskatoon, where they raised their family and have resided in the house that Ron built ever since.
Betty Ann was always a very spiritual woman and was raised to be a strong Anglican. Upon moving to Saskatoon she was very involved with St. Timothy’s Anglican Church. She was part of the alter guild, sang in the choir, and she really enjoyed all of her involvement in the February circle ladies group. She volunteered many hours, made countless Christmas puddings, and fully embraced her church family.
Betty Ann was immensely musical, artistic and talented at everything she dabbled in. Over the years she tried her hand at painting, pottery, sewing, flower arranging, stained glass, reupholstering furniture, cooking classes, and crafting. She always loved to garden and her flower beds were immaculate. Betty Ann consistently had great fashion sense. If you complimented her on an outfit, she would reply by saying she went shopping at the back of the closet. She also enjoyed singing and playing the piano. Season tickets to the Saskatoon Symphony were a must.
Betty Ann relished the outdoors; in her youth she spent her summers growing up at Waskesui. With Ron, she learned the art of tenting, later to upgrade to the luxury of a travel trailer. The month of August was always spent camping in the Meadow Lake Provincial Park at Kimball Lake because it is truly the most beautiful lake and always had lots of great blueberry picking opportunities. She was always up for an adventure and spoke fondly of all her and Ron’s adventures travelling the world by car, train, boat or plane.
To everyone’s great delight, Betty Ann LOVED to cook and bake! She always had room for an extra setting around the table. Everyone was truly welcome. She and Ron hosted many lavish dinner parties for their friends and family. Her grandchildren knew if they came to visit anywhere near meal time it would be a delightful experience. Her butter tarts were to die for. Everyone’s birthday cakes were always hand-crafted by Nana.
Most of all she loved her grandchildren. Betty Ann was always game to take in their multitude of activities. She was constantly there to lend a hand or an ear, help with projects, give sound advice and encouragement, provide a cooking or gardening lesson. She was a positive role model and an integral part of our everyday life.
Betty Ann lived by example and showed us all of the essential values and how to live a positive life to the fullest. She was full of tenacity, wit, grace, and decorum.  We love and miss you Nana.
 A celebration of life for Betty Ann will be held sometime in the future.
“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother” – Lin Yutang