Obituary – Betty Gustafson, 67
February 17th, 1943 – January 15th, 2011
Elizabeth Anne Sime (known by everyone here as Betty) was born in Edmonton’s Royal Alexandria Hospital on February 17th, 1943 to Jack and Peggy Sime. People often said that Betty was the first Caucasian child born in Fort Nelson Hospital. Actually, it was on their return trip home to Fort Liard, where Jack had emigrated from Scotland to work as a factor or trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company, then Peggy became ill with the flu. Rather than going on, Peggy and Betty stayed behind in Fort Nelson at the Army Hospital at Mile 308 until she recovered enough to continue travelling. At about the same time, Peggy’s dad and mother, having retired from the RCMP, moved to Vancouver. This allowed Betty to spend a few summers in Vancouver with her grandparents. Betty was always proud that her grandfather had been in the Northwest Mounted Police (the precursor of the RCMP). After spending her early years in Fort Liard (and Betty always had a soft spot for the community of Fort Liard – travelling there many times over the 317 road in recent years), around the age of six, Betty moved to Vancouver where her brother Jackie was born in 1949. They stayed while baby Jackie recuperated from an illness and Betty completed her first year of schooling. One of Jack Sr.’s friends spoke of a great opportunity in Fort Nelson to set up a store. Jack, being a free trader, took his advice and moved the family to Fort Nelson in 1950. Fort Nelson, unlike Fort Liard, provided the opportunity and services of a school and hospital for his growing family. Jack started J. H. Sime Hardware that became a landmark store in the Fort Nelson area. Another landmark in her life was the birth of her sister Carol in Edmonton in 1951, and the birth of her younger sister Judy also in Edmonton in 1958. Betty attended Fort Nelson’s first school where the present day school district’s maintenance buildings are and then moved into the next, where the school district office is now. After completing grade 10, Betty worked in her father’s hardware store. Bob Gustafson came into her life in the fall of 1958 and they quickly became friends and married in Dawson Creek in 1961. Their three children were born in Fort Nelson, David in 1961, Debbie in 1962 and Darryl in 1964. Bob and Betty as well as all three of their children and their families have made Fort Nelson their home with the exception of a period during which the family lived at Fireside, Muncho Lake and Prophet River. The move to the more isolated areas along the Highway in 1971, while initially being a drastic change in their lives, soon proved to a very influential and positive life experience for Betty and her family. Betty’s enthusiastic approach to life proved to a valuable asset as she was instrumental in organising recreational events like curling bonspiels at Fireside, card games and activities in the rec halls – keeping the community spirit alive and bringing joy to those who lived there. Strong family bonds, a keen appreciation for the north, its rich history and natural bounty as well as the value of long lasting friendships were reinforced by their years of life and work along the highway. Her interest in history, especially of the north and in particular the BC section of the Alaska Highway, grew during her stay in the remote communities while visiting old military installations and rummaging through what was left behind by the early Alaska Highway construction crews. Some of the artefacts that she found now reside in the Fort Nelson Museum. Betty was also very adept in the world of business. The family moved back to Fort Nelson in 1976 and after working at Fort Nelson Stationery and J. H. Sime Hardware, Betty and Bob bought the Highlander Laundromat in 1978. During the 11 years that Betty operated the business, she maintained a strong presence in Fort Nelson and strengthened personal and business relationships throughout the region. She understood the families who lived in both town and the surrounding areas. She understood those folks who didn’t have a washer and dryer. She knew about the single guys who lived out in the bush or in the oil patch and who came to town to shop and socialise and who left their bags and bags of laundry to sort, wash, dry and fold. By the time Betty and Bob purchased Wide Sky Disposal in 1989, they had already gained substantial recognition and respect within the community as hard-working, honest and community-minded people. Operating from these principles, Bob and Betty grew Wide Sky from being a small local company into a reputable corporation with a strong commitment to the community and the northern environment. After 18 years of hard work, Bob and Betty sold Wide Sky and their focus shifted towards a semi-retired lifestyle. Family was always a very large part of Betty’s life. She was very close to all of her children and her beloved grandchildren. It was one of her greatest joys that all of her family stayed close by. She was very involved and interested in her sibling’s families, her many nieces and nephews and their children, playing the role of matriarch of the Sime clan with aplomb. She was proud of their many accomplishments. She also stayed in close contact with her mother’s sister, Dot Simmington, and her family, who live in the Prince George area. Throughout the years Betty established friendships with people far and near and she has many friendships that have lasted since her school days. Her generosity is legendary. An example of her friendship is her willingness to look after the Southwick kids while her friend Chris shopped in the big city of Fort Nelson, or how Betty stayed up until two in the morning to get Chris’ mother on the bus. Betty gained a sense of adventure that would only be satisfied by taking on new adventures. Bob and Betty travelled extensively throughout the North and indeed around the world experiencing sights that many of us could only dream about. Betty’s determination was also a driving force that influenced the local hiking group’s expeditions which brought Betty to such unique locations as the Chilkoot Trail, Scotland’s West Highland Trail, Newfoundland’s rugged uplands and her beloved Muskwa Kechika. Betty will be remembered in the community with much fondness and appreciation for the time and effort that she put into those volunteer organisations that benefited from her generosity. She served for many years on the executive of the Historical Society, the Hospital Auxiliary, and Saint Mary Magdalene’s Anglican Church. For example, at the church, she served on the Vestry as the church treasurer for many, many years each week counting and banking the collection, paying bills, keeping the books, and sending out tax receipts to those making donations. When Betty was passionate about something, she supported it full on. At the church, not only was she the treasurer, she also took her run at cleaning the church, keeping the grounds attractive, and baking goodies for tea after church. Betty was a pioneer in the real sense, with the perseverance, determination, and strength of character to not only survive, but also to thrive. Her loyalty, honesty, hard work, love of the land, empathy, integrity and even her sense of humour helped keep her strong in the face of adversity. She didn’t judge people but accepted people for who they were. She faced the challenges of being a woman in a man’s world without fear. She, along with Bob and their family, has helped instill in the community the fierce determination and independence that have helped make Fort Nelson the community it is now. Betty’s legacy will be a long lasting one, and her quiet yet determined influence will be felt in northeastern BC for decades to come.
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