It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Elizabeth (Betty) Unrau on September 5th 2024 at Rest Haven in Steinbach.
Betty was born Elizabeth Kroeker on July 22, 1932 in Eigenhof, Manitoba (near Gretna) to Peter and Justina Kroeker. She was one of seven children. Two sisters and one brother died before she did.
She married John Unrau in 1953 and raised 7 children on a farm near Lowe Farm. John passed away in 2002, and their oldest daughter, Elaine, passed away in 1978. Her surviving children, Ken (Dale) Unrau, Marlene Goodman, Mel (Louise) Unrau, Val Johnson (Michael Drebot), Vi (Mike) Poitras and Audrey (Ross) Leckie, and 11 grandchildren - Jonathan, Dyan, Kasey, Annette, Steven (Mary Margaret), Kylee (Vince), Zoee, Sydnee, Ryan, Myles and Shaelyn - and one great-grandson (Logan), honorary daughter Frieda (Maynard) and their family, mourn her passing. But we rejoice that she is now home with Jesus. and that her suffering is over.
Betty was typical of her generation in that she married young and worked hard. She married at the age of 20 and began working and running a farm along with her husband. It is staggering now to think that at that at that young age she sewed everyone’s clothes, had a huge garden that provided all the fruit and vegetables for the family, supported the work in the fields and barns, and made all the meals from scratch. She not only taught her children to work hard, but to love hard work. She enjoyed working with her girls in the house and garden and made it fun, and was proud of how her boys learned to work on the farm with their Dad. She had a great sense of humour that we saw even at the end of her life.
Betty made friends easily. When she and John retired and moved to Winkler, they already knew many people there. But Mom also became close friends with many neighbours and church members, and with people she volunteered with at the MCC thrift shop and the Winkler senior centre. Even when she moved to a new community in Steinbach at the age of 90, she found new friends among the residents and staff. The staff loved her, and we thank them for the excellent care they provided.
Betty suffered a stroke at the age of 89. She lived in her condo for just over a year after and got help and company from several lovely carers at Silver Lining home care. She endeared herself to the carers and was especially close to Anna and Nettie, who remained close until her passing. Mom was always overjoyed when they came to visit in Steinbach, and they were among the first people we called when Mom took a turn for the worse.
Her energy and lively spirit made us think she would be strong and independent until the end of her life. It broke our hearts to see her health slowly deteriorate , and it frustrated her to no end that she wasn’t able to work or do the things she loved. We love knowing that she can now run and not be weary, walk and not faint. And even though we miss her and grieve her passing, we know that she has been reunited with her husband and daughter, whom she missed desperately, and we look forward to seeing her again one day. Although she is now gone from this life, our loving memories of her live on.
Betty was born Elizabeth Kroeker on July 22, 1932 in Eigenhof, Manitoba (near Gretna) to Peter and Justina Kroeker. She was one of seven children. Two sisters and one brother died before she did.
She married John Unrau in 1953 and raised 7 children on a farm near Lowe Farm. John passed away in 2002, and their oldest daughter, Elaine, passed away in 1978. Her surviving children, Ken (Dale) Unrau, Marlene Goodman, Mel (Louise) Unrau, Val Johnson (Michael Drebot), Vi (Mike) Poitras and Audrey (Ross) Leckie, and 11 grandchildren - Jonathan, Dyan, Kasey, Annette, Steven (Mary Margaret), Kylee (Vince), Zoee, Sydnee, Ryan, Myles and Shaelyn - and one great-grandson (Logan), honorary daughter Frieda (Maynard) and their family, mourn her passing. But we rejoice that she is now home with Jesus. and that her suffering is over.
Betty was typical of her generation in that she married young and worked hard. She married at the age of 20 and began working and running a farm along with her husband. It is staggering now to think that at that at that young age she sewed everyone’s clothes, had a huge garden that provided all the fruit and vegetables for the family, supported the work in the fields and barns, and made all the meals from scratch. She not only taught her children to work hard, but to love hard work. She enjoyed working with her girls in the house and garden and made it fun, and was proud of how her boys learned to work on the farm with their Dad. She had a great sense of humour that we saw even at the end of her life.
Betty made friends easily. When she and John retired and moved to Winkler, they already knew many people there. But Mom also became close friends with many neighbours and church members, and with people she volunteered with at the MCC thrift shop and the Winkler senior centre. Even when she moved to a new community in Steinbach at the age of 90, she found new friends among the residents and staff. The staff loved her, and we thank them for the excellent care they provided.
Betty suffered a stroke at the age of 89. She lived in her condo for just over a year after and got help and company from several lovely carers at Silver Lining home care. She endeared herself to the carers and was especially close to Anna and Nettie, who remained close until her passing. Mom was always overjoyed when they came to visit in Steinbach, and they were among the first people we called when Mom took a turn for the worse.
Her energy and lively spirit made us think she would be strong and independent until the end of her life. It broke our hearts to see her health slowly deteriorate , and it frustrated her to no end that she wasn’t able to work or do the things she loved. We love knowing that she can now run and not be weary, walk and not faint. And even though we miss her and grieve her passing, we know that she has been reunited with her husband and daughter, whom she missed desperately, and we look forward to seeing her again one day. Although she is now gone from this life, our loving memories of her live on.