Betty (nee Ringheim) Atkinson / Morphet

Betty was born in Trail BC to Margery and Elmer Ringheim where she attended elementary school before her family moved to Kaslo. After high school, Betty worked as a telephone operator before furthering her education by attending teacher training (Normal School) in Vancouver. Her first teaching position was in a one room schoolhouse in Lardeau (a small community at the end of Kootenay Lake after being transported aboard the S.S. Moyie sternwheeler), teaching 14 students ranging from Grades 1-9. Teacher responsibilities included lighting the pot-belly stove and hauling buckets of water from the creek to store in clay crocks. Students and teacher had to keep an eye on the wooden floor surrounding the stove as sparks often shot out of gaps around the stove’s seams.

Betty’s next teaching position was in Kaslo where she soon married her high school sweetheart, Stanley Morphet. Betty and Stan lived most of their married life in Youbou where she taught at Yount Elementary School. As Rick and Laurie grew up, The Morphet household was most often teeming with neighbourhood kids as Betty warmly welcomed them and had an endless supply of homemade cookies. After Stan’s passing, Betty moved to Duncan while she continued to teach at Stanley Gordon Elementary in Lake Cowichan. After retiring, Betty met her second husband, Roy Atkinson and moved to Victoria. They had 10 wonderful years together including spending many summers at Honeymoon Bay RV Park with family and Park friends before Roy passed, after which Betty relocated to Port Alberni.

Betty passed away peacefully on July 4 at Westhaven Lodge in Port Alberni surrounded by family. Betty will be remembered for her gentle and loving manner and for her unwavering care and support for family, friends and students. She was the most attentive listener and always told and showed how much people meant to her with words and hugs. Nothing pleased Betty more than family dinners!

Betty is survived by her and Stan’s two children, Rick Morphet (Joanne) and Laurie Morphet (Laurie Money), her grandchildren Shaun Morphet (Amy), Kama Money, Chris Morphet and Tristan Money (Emily) and ten great-grandchildren. Betty is also survived by Roy Atkinson’s two children, Jill Pengelly, Rick Atkinson and grandchildren Todd Pengelly (Sue), Tisha Pengelly (Duncan Gladman), Jennifer Atkinson (Mike Sheward), Dru Atkinson (Angela) and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Betty was pre-deceased by both husbands, sisters Jean Downey and Carol Baxter, sister-in-law Phylis Norberg, brother Jack Ringheim and sister-in-law and her best friend, Audrey Ringheim.

In lieu of flowers, since Betty was so lovingly cared for at Ty Watson House for four months, the family requests donations be made via albernihospice.ca

The family is honoring Betty’s request for no service.