Betty Adeline Mann (nee Long), age 91, of Swift Current, SK, formerly of Skull Creek and Maple Creek, passed away March 10, 2024 in Swift Current. The celebration of life service will be held at a later date with interment at the home ranch.
Betty is survived by her children, Patty Robertshaw (Peter), Jim (Donna), Doug (Crystal) and Marjorie, grandchildren Amy Breiter (Conrad), Ian Robertshaw, Shanna Mann (Chris Hess), Rory Mann (Jessica with daughters Kaylee, Kianna, Addison Robinson), Sharli Mann, Riley Mann (Amanda), and Daniel Peterson, great grandchildren, Colt Mann, SarahBelle Mann, Victoria Peterson and Derrick Peterson. Betty is also remembered by her many nieces and nephews, two sisters, Lois Ables and Pat Hughes and sister-in-law Ida Grace Long.
Betty was predeceased by Robert (her husband of 56 years), grandson, Michael Peterson, her father James (Ed) Long, her mother Ellen Long, and her siblings Violet (Sulo) Hanahan, Everett, Vern (Inez), Eileen (Gerry) Knight, Robert, Ernest, Garry (Elaine), and brother-in-law Bob Hughes.
Betty was born at Melfort, SK on September 20, 1932. She attended Thatch Creek School and Melfort High School. She grew up in a family of 10 children on a farm northwest of Melfort near Long Siding. Her duties were as the family milkmaid, which she enjoyed much more than being in the house cleaning. She also loved being with the farm horses. She was greatly affected by the sudden death of her brother Ernie in an accident where she was also injured. She was also affected by the early passing of her father leaving her mother with 9 children to raise alone.
Betty attended the University of Saskatchewan and did her nursing training at City Hospital in Saskatoon, graduating with a degree in nursing in 1953. Her University class was a small one of eight women who remained close. In University she was in the same class as Helen Mann and met Helen’s brother, Robert, while visiting at the Mann ranch. Betty practiced public health nursing in Shellbrook then hospital nursing in Maple Creek prior to marrying Robert Stephen Mann on July 20, 1956 at Melfort United Church.
Upon the passing of her father-in-law in 1968 she took a more active role in the ranch enterprise and considered that work the best to be had. She took part in all ranch activities as Robert experimented with Simmental cattle, ROP, and AI. She managed all the cattle records and knew the cattle better than anyone. She taught Red Cross First Aid for the community college and weighed cattle around SW Saskatchewan for the provincial ROP program.
Betty was a mother, a nurse, and a rancher. She was a lifelong avid reader and endowed her children with a love of learning, raising them to be responsible and independent. She provided a summer haven for her nieces and nephews and a place at the table for her children’s visiting college friends lovingly called relatives and refugees. She is remembered as being intelligent, calm, and patient, not only explaining but demonstrating. She never raised her voice unless we were getting into trouble where we could harm ourselves. She had a wry sense of humor that emerged at the oddest times. She was proud to have lived in Saskatchewan for her entire life.
Later in life she loved to spend her time reading and enjoyed card parties with the neighbors particularly the Drevers and Scotts. Watching baseball with Robert and Ray Schuler passed many a summer evening and gardening became a late passion. She and Robert retired to Maple Creek in 2005. She and Robert travelled
to England, Prince Edward Island and Ontario. After Robert passed away in 2012, she travelled with her children to Arizona, California, Oregon, Vancouver Island, Alaska, and Jasper and visited her sisters in Everson and Sumas, Washington. Lately, Marjorie was most often her traveling companion. She moved to Riverview Estates in Swift Current in 2016 and enjoyed the community there until her passing.
Memorial donations can be made to the charity of donor’s choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home. For further information please call (306)773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on our tribute wall.