Celebrating her 100th birthday, Betty Maidment (Finch) was surprised and humbled as Mayor Kevin Ferguson presented her with a certificate and gift on behalf of Ponoka. She was happy he agreed to join the family birthday luncheon at Rimoka Lodge, saying he was “such a nice young man.”
Betty was born in the family home, Aug. 16, 1922 and was raised and lived in Point Edward, Ont. for over 50 years of her lifetime. She married Chuck in 1943, two days prior to his RCAF posting overseas during WW11.
Before and during war years she operated and trained on switchboard for Bell Telephone. She often tells the story of how the board lit up like a Christmas tree announcing wars end and families reuniting. A memory she never forgets.
Betty also sang through the war years on the Port Huron, Michigan radio station and for Jack Kennedy’s Orchestra in Sarnia, Ont. She turned down the opportunity to sing with Louis Armstrong’s band as family was always her priority. Betty and Chuck raised three children: Lynne, Chuck and Dan.
At the age of 70 Betty moved west to make her home in Red Deer with Lynne and husband Doug (Thorson) and their two daughters and moved with them as they retired to Ponoka in 2007.
- Submitted by Lynne Thorson