Betty Ann (Burger) Eckstrand

Mrs. Betty Eckstrand of Stavely, beloved wife of Stan Eckstrand, passed away May 2, 2024 at the age of 80. 

Betty will be lovingly remembered by her three children, Marijane (Shawn) Rose, Tom (Jennifer) Eckstrand, and Ryan (Kristie Johnston) Eckstrand; her seven grandchildren: Stephen, Brendan, Daniel, Ian, Zach, Sidney and Courtney; her sisters Barbara Traxler and Jeannie Egger, and in-laws Marge and Glenn Stiff and Ev (deceased) and John Landry. 

Betty was predeceased by her parents Ellen and Simon Heitrich, and her brothers James, Gerald and Richard. 

Betty was born in Medicine Hat to Ellen and Simon Heitrich, the oldest of six children and raised in Etzikom where she went to school. She married Stan in 1962 and moved to Calgary where she graduated from Marvel Beauty school. 

As well as raising her own children she cared for nine foster children over a period of 10 years. 

Betty enjoyed owning and operating The Pincushion fabric store in Black Diamond from 1980 - 1985 where she made wedding dresses, graduation dresses, and draperies. Her support for the seniors started with sharing her sewing skills, but quickly expanded into her driving them to appointments and picking up items they needed. When she closed the store she became a hobby farmer and raised goats, llamas, rabbits, chickens, and ducks to name a few. 

Due to the excessive fibre production of the farm she attended three levels of the Masters Spinners Certification program at Olds College. She became an active member of the Millarville Sheep Creek Weavers and began processing fibre used for various fibre arts. 

She had a love of creating, gardening, and baking, she became a lifelong member of the Millarville Ag Society, and had many years as a prolific exhibitor and organizer of the llama shows and competition. She was also a co-creator of the Foothills 4-H Llama club and was a regular vendor selling her alpaca and wool creations at the Millarville Farmers Market and several other markets. With all her experience of animals and their fibre, she became the go-to person for all those needing expertise. 

After moving to a larger acreage in the Porcupine Hills in 2002 she was able to expand the farm business to include a larger variety of goats, llamas and alpacas. After 10 years Betty and Stan decided to semi-retire to a smaller acreage west of Stavely and reduced the farm operation. This is where she resided until becoming ill and leaving us on May 2, 2024. 

Betty was an avid storyteller, an exceptional cook and loved a house overflowing with plants and at least a few cats she could snuggle. 

She will be sadly missed by family and friends.

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