August 23, 2021
In Loving Memory (1926-2021) ~ The family of Betty Demmitt regret to announce her passing, on August 23, 2021, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Betty was born to John and Annie Geluch of Spuzzum, BC in November, 1926, at Saint Paul's Hospital in Vancouver. Betty attended school in Hope, BC, where she met and married Chelsea Gail Demmitt.
Following the birth of their son, Jerry, in 1948, the family moved to Kansas, where they lived and worked on family farms. Daughters Jacque and Kathy were born there, before the family returned to BC in 1954.
Betty, Gail and their children moved to Terrace, BC, in 1956 after a flood destroyed their home near Laidlaw, BC. They lived on a small farm on what is now North Sparks. While Gail worked as a logger, Betty worked on the family farm and found employment in the retail industry.
Betty and Gail opened their own corner grocery store, B&G Grocery, on South Kalum in 1966. Betty continued to operate the store and attached laundromat and car wash after Gail's death in 1990. She retired after selling the business in the 1990's.
Retirement offered Betty the opportunity to enjoy many of the pursuits her long working hours had previously denied her. She became a world traveller, enjoying tours and cruises with her daughters and various friends.
She also pursued her passions for gardening and painting, and was a regular at the Happy Gang Centre. Betty's numerous medals for the BC Seniors' Games were also a great source of pride to her.
Betty was predeceased by her parents and her four siblings, as well as her husband (Gail), son (Jerry) and granddaughter (Amber). She is survived by her daughters, Jacque (Greig) Houlden and Kathy (Jim) Daigneault, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff of Terraceview Lodge and Dr. Penney for the kind and considerate care provided to Betty in her final years.
At Betty's request, she was cremated and her ashes will be interred with those of her husband, Gail, in the Terrace Municipal Cemetery.