Bette Dean (nee Thiessen) of Moose Jaw passed away Friday, May 15, 2009 at Providence Place at the age of 83. Bette was born in Goldtown, SK. and moved with her family to Moose Jaw when she was still an infant. She attended Ross Elementary School and Peacock Collegiate (Peacock Technical School). As a youth she and her sisters often sang at various Salvation Army events. During the war years Bette spent time in Ottawa before returning to Moose Jaw. On July 31, 1947 she married Roy Dean in a double wedding ceremony with her sister Barbara who married Paul Berthelot. Bette and Roy made their home in Moose Jaw and she worked in several secretarial positions before becoming the office manager of the local constituency office under Federal MP's Doug Neil and Bill Gottselig. Bette was an avid and very accomplished bowler. She was a member of several leagues over the years and often took home trophies for her high scores. She loved to travel and fish with Roy and loved hosting large family dinners especially during the Christmas season. Bette was a loving wife to Roy, a devoted mother to daughter Lori, and a proud grandmother of granddaughter Danica. She also cared deeply about her siblings, in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and close friends. Bette is predeceased by her husband Roy, her sisters and brothers-in-law Anne (August) Fritzler, Barbara (Paul) Berthelot, Mary Thiessen and Vera (Keith) Robertson, brothers Cornelius (Lorraine), Peter, John (Nettie), and William Thiessen, niece Carolyn (Fritzler) Gray, nephew Bill Robertson, and great-nephew Bradley Fritzler. She is survived by daughter Lori, granddaughter Danica French, sister-in-law Eunice Thiessen, nephew Bob (Bev) Fritzler and great-niece Heather, great-nephews Steven and Lyle Greer, Danica's father Patrick (Deb) French and their boys James and Peter, special friends Evelyn Parsons and Barb Jestin, and many other family members and friends. The Memorial Service to celebrate Bette's life will be held at Providence Place Chapel on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Reverend John Carley will officiate. Flowers are greatly declined. For those so wishing donations may be made in Bette's name to Providence Place - St. Vincent's, 100 2nd Avenue N.E., Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, S6H 1B8. In living memory of Bette, a tree will be planted in Besant Park by W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register book at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Lew Young Funeral Director