Betty Arnold

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing

of Mrs. Betty Doris Arnold of Banff. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, Betty grew up in Kettering with her younger brother, Peter. Betty was only 14 when World War II broke out, and on August 31, 1942, Betty joined the Land Army, and worked hard to ensure the British population had food during the war. At church one Sunday in 1943, a Royal Air Force pilot introduced himself after the service. The young man was John Arnold, who would become her husband. John spent his breaks with Betty whenever possible, and in September 1944, John proposed aboard a bus in Kettering. Betty, being hopelessly smitten, said 'yes". They were married on December 16, 1944, and were together for 72 years, until John passed away in January 2017.

After the war John arranged to bring Betty back to his hometown of Calgary, which was a daunting journey for a young woman who had never before left England, Betty crossed the Atlantic on the Aquitania, disembarking at the famous Pier 21 in Halifax on April 9, 1946, along with other war brides who had married Canadian servicemen. The seas were very rough and Betty recalled being terribly seasick during most of the crossing. From Halifax she took the week-long train trip to Calgary. The vast Canadian landscape made her feel as though the train ride would never end. When she finally arrived in Calgary, John was late to the station to meet as he was searching for roses (at his landlady's insistence) in a borrowed truck that had broken down.

John and Betty settled in Calgary. He landed a job with Garbert's Furs, and she at Eaton's. Betty always was stylishly dressed and kept up with the latest fashions. Around 1960, John & Betty moved to Banff, having essentially become part of the Garbert family during John's tenure at Garbert's Furs. Mr. Robert Garbert Sr. had built the Bank of Montreal building in 1959, which still remains on Banff Avenue, and established Garbert's China & Linen in one of its retail spaces, which Betty helped manage until it closed in the 1990's. John and Betty, along with Robert Garbert Jr. and his wife Alma, lived in apartments on the second floor of the building, and the two couples raised Alma and Bob's four children Karen, Brad, Michelle and Reed as a family. John and Betty also went on to help raise Karen's daughters, Nahanni and Jackie, as well as Michelle's twins, Erik and Sierra.

Betty was active in the Banff community, and along with Mr. Garbert Sr.'s wife Madge, established the Banff branch of the Soroptimist Club. Betty was well known for her love, generosity and kindness to everyone she encountered. One of Alma Garbert's nephews was so take by her kindness after visiting Banff one summer that he later wrote he a poem entitled "Betty Too Kind". She had nothing but love in her heart and never had anything bad to say about anyone. She will be sorely missed and always lovingly remembered. Betty died peacefully in Banff of complications from a stoke, surrounded by her family.

Betty leaves behind her brother Peter Mobbs, sister-in-law Betty; nieces and nephews Leslie, David , Sarah, Jane, Lynn, Sally, Peter, Rebecca and Tom, all of the UK; her Banff family, Alma, Karen, Brad, Michelle (Dave), Reed (Laura) Garbert and "grandchildren" Nahanni and Jackie McKay and Erik and Sierra Rutherford.

A Service of Interment took place with family present,

on June 20, 2018 at Mountain View Cemetery in Banff.

A memorial reception will be held in the fall of 2018,

with details to be announced.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.