Betty (Lyth) McMaster

Betty passed away peacefully at the Portage General Hospital on November 23, 2020. 

She was predeceased by her husband Jack McMaster.

Left to cherish her memory are sons Kevin and Andrew (Wendy), grandchildren Karli (Dan) and Jamie (Laryssa), and great grandson Jack.

Betty is also survived by a sister Helen and many nieces and nephews.

Betty was born on February 9th, 1930 in Manchester, England to Leslie and Helen Lyth and was one of six children.

Betty wanted to be a nurse and soon after graduating with her registered nursing degree, she read an advertisement that was recruiting for nurses to work in Canada.

On December 9th, 1953, in Liverpool, England, Betty boarded the ship Empress of France and headed to Canada. She arrived in St. John, New Brunswick on December 16th and then made her way to Kirkland Lake, Ontario, to begin her nursing career.  In 1956 Betty moved to Portage La Prairie to work at the new Portage Hospital.

When Betty first arrived in Portage she lived in the former nurse’s residence and worked briefly at the old hospital where she remembered patients having to be carried by stretcher between floors due to no elevator service. Betty and Jack were married in 1957. Betty worked for over 35 years at the Portage General Hospital as a nurse and a nurse’s aid.

Betty’s two passions in life were reading books and her love of animals, especially cats.  

In keeping with Betty’s wishes there will be no formal funeral service. A private family interment will take place at a later date.

The family wish to thank Dr. Delaquis and the staff of the Portage General Hospital for the compassion and care that Betty received. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Portage Regional Library or Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

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