Obituary of Betty Ballantyne-Brown

 Betty Ballantyne-Brown (nee Wideman) was called to her eternal home on Sunday, August 31 after suffering a massive stroke. Betty, officially known as Frances Elizabeth, was born at Dickson Hill to farmers Myrtle and Herbert Wideman, on June 10, 1932, the youngest of five. She is pre-deceased by all of her four brothers, Harley, Ross, Bruce, and Lloyd. It was her brothers who taught her to throw and catch a hardball with bare hands, and later she would demonstrate these skills on the Peaches baseball team.  She learned to swim by being tossed into the creek by one of her brothers – she never took any lessons. Her involvement with the Youth For Christ choir led to many life-long friendships. Betty was also a great skater, but only ever wore speed skates. Her favourite place to skate was Cedarena, one of the few rinks in the 70’s and 80’s that still allowed speed skaters on the ice. 

 Betty met her husband, Bob, while working at Miner’s Bay Lodge in 1955. She would finish teaching in June and head up to work as a waitress during her summers there in Minden. Bob was staying at the lodge while on a fishing trip with some friends, and the attraction was immediate! They were married the next summer and welcomed their first child, John, in 1957. Twins Cathy and Cheryl came along three years later. Betty returned to her teaching career with the Scarborough Board of Education and taught mostly kindergarten for 30+ years. Kitchen table talk in the evenings usually revolved around mom’s stories of her students. Betty was a great story-teller! These years were full of cottage adventures with the French and Fuyarchuk families, when Betty developed into a ‘master’ Scrabble player, and enjoyed daily ‘constitutionals’ out on the lake swimming to the point and back to the dock with Bonnie and Ruth.  Church activities during these years included choir, Pioneer Girls, and Sunday school music ministry. Her membership in a local PEO chapter introduced her to more wonderful friends during these years. A family trip to England and Scotland in 1974 was a highlight for her.  She loved to travel! After losing Bob unexpectedly in 1986, Betty retired from teaching a few years later and began volunteering at the Care and Share shop in Stouffville while helping to care for her mother-in-law. She embraced her role as a grandma and rejoiced with the births of eight grandchildren. She would eventually delight in eighteen great-grandchildren and boasted of them frequently.  

 Betty married again in 2000, to Dr. Tom Brown, and enjoyed thirteen wonderful years with him, travelling the world and enjoying the company of family and friends. Her faith, family, and a God-given strength and resilience helped her through the loss of two dear husbands and the many bone breaks and recoveries she endured because of severe osteoporosis. The family would like to thank Redi Sisay, mom’s caregiver, for her compassionate and expert care following the latest injury.

 Betty’s bright smile, positive attitude, and sincere love for others will be greatly missed by John and Brenda, Cathy and Barry, Cheryl and Steve, the many grandchildren and great grandchildren in the family, and many, many friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Operation Smile or Markham Stouffville Hospital. Until we meet again.