Betty Eileen Preston

Betty was born on April 4, 1929, in Hackney Wick, London, England, to parents John and Ivy Williamson. Betty had one older brother, John.

Betty attended school from ages 5 to 14 in Hackney, London, first at Homerton Row School, and then Princess May School, where she was Head Girl. Betty’s education was interrupted with the start of World War II in 1939, when she was 10 years old. She and her brother were briefly evacuated from London to the countryside, but Betty so hated being away from home that she and her brother returned to London after only a week. Betty spent the duration of the war in London.

In 1946, Betty met Harry Leonard Preston (Len). At the time, Betty was working as a machinist in a tailoring Factory, Simpson’s, and Len, who fought in WWII, had been discharged from the military and was working as a labourer. They were married in 1947, and their daughter, Betty Jean, was born in 1948. Betty later worked in the London Hospital on a medical ward, which was a job that she loved.

In 1973, Betty Jean married Kenneth Lawrence, and in 1975, they immigrated to Canada. Betty and Len visited Canada after the birth of their first grandchild, Joanne, and soon decided that they would also move to Canada. Betty and Len immigrated to Canada in 1977, shortly before the birth of their grandson, Andrew.

Betty and Len loved being in Canada close to their family. They lived with Betty Jean and Ken for only ten days before securing employment as apartment managers, which kept them busy until retirement. Family gatherings were held often over the years, and family vacations to places such as Vancouver Island, Banff, and Disneyland, were enjoyed together. These memories are so cherished by Betty’s family.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ivy, her brother, John, and her beloved husband, Len. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Jean, her son-in-law, Kenneth, her grandchildren Joanne (Martin) and Andrew (Nuri), and great-grandchildren Alexander, Oliver, Ewan, and Edan. Betty was a beloved Mum, Nanna, and Great Nanna, and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 11:00 am at Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home (34537 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 1M1). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider donating to the charity of your choice in Betty’s memory.