Elizabeth (Betty) Nordstrom (née Thayer)

July 13, 1932 - February 3, 2024

In loving memory ~

Elizabeth (Betty) Nordstrom (née Thayer) passed away peacefully on February 3, 2024, in Terrace, BC at the age of 91.

On July 13, 1932, Betty was the fourth child born to Walter and Ella Thayer in Montreal, Quebec. The family moved just outside of Lloydminister, Saskatchewan to start a farm shortly after she was born so Betty grew up surrounded by open fields and animals. She continued with a love for animals for the rest of her life.

Betty attended high school in Lone Rock but left after grade 10 to take a business course which became her chosen career. She met her husband Neal Nordstrom in Lloydminister and after they married in August of 1953, they moved to Saskatoon where Neal was employed, and they built their first house and had their first child Larry in 1961. They moved to Wilke where Betty was employed as a secretary at the local hospital. Their family grew with the addition of James (Jimmy) and Shelley.

In 1969, they moved to Terrace for work and to join the family. Betty was a stay-at-home mother while the children were little but started working part-time for Great West Life once the kids started elementary school. When they were in high school, she started at Northwest Community College as an Administrative Assistant to the President. After she retired, she went back to work at Great West Life.

Betty and Neal shared a love for music and many family and holiday dinners were concluded with a round of guitar playing and singing with the grandchildren. They also took great delight in joining a variety of sports in their later years like curling, bowling and baseball and enjoyed participating in the Senior Games. Betty also spent a lot of her spare time gardening and volunteered with the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store until she had to retire for health reasons. Betty loved to spend her time reading and as her vision failed, moved on to audiobooks.

Betty is predeceased by her husband Neal and her daughter Shelley and is survived by her sons Larry (Lynne) and Jimmy (Monica) and her grandchildren, Aaron, Kenny, Nick, Megan, Taylor, Matthew, Melanie and Kenzie and great-grandchildren Skyla, Harper, Avery and Norah. She is survived by her sister Hazel (Johnny) Sidoryk in Lloydminister, her niece Mary-Ann Misfeldt, and many other nieces and nephews.

Special thank you to the Home Care staff who were there for her the last few years and to the many doctors and nurses who assisted her in her hospital stay; especially Dr. Bethany Berends and Dr. Jaco Strydom. Also, a special thank you to her friend Darlene Prinz for her assistance and companionship which were greatly appreciated by Betty. Many residents of Twin River Estates also held a special place in her heart.

In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations be dropped off to the Thrift Store, 4544 Lazelle Avenue, or mailed to Thrift Store, Box 406, Terrace, BC, V8G 4B1.

Receipts will be mailed out. A celebration of life is planned for July 14, 2024, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Terrace Branch.