Betty Conrad

Betty Conrad

(née Delichte) 

Peacefully at Boundary Trails Health Centre on Thursday, August 18, 2022, Betty Conrad of Mariapolis, Manitoba passed away at the age of 80 years.

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of 61 years, Denis Conrad; her children, Michael (Jacqueline) Conrad, Perry (Jacqueline) Conrad, Keith (Shelley) Conrad, Gene (Paula) Conrad, Neil (Marcie) Conrad, Nicole (Lindsay) Hamill and Colleen (Kevin) Van Den Bussche; her grandchildren, Kyle (Victoria), Colin (Monique), Brett (Chrissy), Brooke (Michael), Jesse (Kaitlyn), Colt, Bobby-Jo (Philip), Toni (Griffin), Kody (Trista), Kelsey (Vincent), Karl (Chelsea), Kolby (Olivia), Delaney, Emma, Jeremy, Matthew, Jenna, Taylor, Jenny (Levi), Kassidy (Taylor), Kate, Nolan, Ashley and Carter; and her great-grandchildren, Canaan, Cade, Adley, Miles, Arthur and Everlee. She also leaves to mourn her sister Edna Desrochers; her in-laws, Velma Rivest, Roland (Shirley) Conrad, Rene (Roberta) Conrad and Rosa Conrad, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Betty is predeceased by her parents Firmin and Judith Delichte, her brother George Delichte, her parents-in-law Tim and Antoinette Conrad, her brothers-in-law, Romain Desrochers, Paul Mason and Paul Conrad and son-in-law Mark Hodgson.

Betty was born and raised on the same farm her grandfather homesteaded in St. Alphonse, Manitoba. She attended elementary school in St. Alphonse. As a young girl she belonged to the Crusaders and the YCS (Young Catholic Students) as well as the local 4-H Clothing Club. She loved to run, walk the veranda railings of the house, and climb to the rooftop of all the farm buildings. Playing with her siblings and her cousins was top on her list. She attended high school as a border at Bruxelles Convent until the end of grade eleven and completed her grade 12 year in Mariapolis. After high school, Betty graduated as a hairdresser and opened a hairdressing shop on the family farm where she enjoyed styling hair and visiting with the neighbours. On June 17, 1961, she married Denis and was told by the parish priest they were both too stubborn and the marriage would never last. In 1963 they moved to Howell Michigan as Denis had an opportunity to work with heavy horses and then returned to St. Alphonse in 1964 to take over Betty’s family farm. On this mixed grain and equine farm they raised their seven children. They retired to Mariapolis in the spring of 2000.

Nothing made Betty happier then spending time with her 7 children, 24 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She was always up for a game, a tea party, wiener roast, or driving miles to watch any one of their activities. She loved to go on horseback, wagon, and sleigh rides.  She always tended to a large vegetable garden and several beautiful flower gardens.  Often, after darkness fell, and all the children were in bed, Betty would put on a miner’s light to finish up her weeding. She loved spending countless hours with her sister discussing gardening, quilting, baking and anything else under the moon. She enjoyed having a house full of people and was often baking and cooking enough to feed an army. Betty was very creative and enjoyed painting as well as designing and sewing many wonderful costumes for horse shows or any other needs. To add to her artistic passion, she performed in the Mariapolis Drama Club and joined the Wood Carving Club. At the age of 63 she found a love for the game of golf and enjoyed many laughs with the ladies and grandchildren. Betty was very grateful to retire in the town of Mariapolis with such a wonderful group of people. She loved to spend time with her friends at potlucks and gatherings at the local restaurant. She enjoyed interacting with people of all ages in the community and saw the best in everyone. She was proud of the younger generation and would say, “The world is in good hands, you’ll see, they are going to do lots.” Betty was a truly happy person, had so much energy, and would do anything for anyone. She often said to her family, "…don't you cry for me, I had such a good life." …and she meant it!

Funeral Mass will be held at the Mariapolis Catholic Church on Friday, August 26, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with a video tribute at 1:45 p.m. The service will be available to be viewed via Live Streaming. If you wish to have your name appear in the guestbook, please email your name to office@afh.ca re: Betty Conrad.

The service will be available to be viewed via Live Streaming. If you wish to have your name appear in the guestbook, please email your name to office@afh.ca re: Betty Conrad.

Memorial donations can be made to Cancer Care Manitoba , 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0V0.

Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements. Phone 204-248-2201. To view the service details and leave condolences, please visit www.afh.ca

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Betty Conrad, please visit our floral store.