Wilma Betty was born on Monday, September 13, 1937 in Simcoe, Ontario to Leo and Margaret (Stewart) Deming. She was the youngest of seven, with older siblings Walter, Lloyd, George, Phyllis, Jack and Elinore. It was at this time that Betty learned the Deming Stare, a look that her kids admitted she perfected over the years. Betty soon completed her education in Simcoe before heading off to work at Kitchen-Peabody. She married young and welcomed twins, Lynda and Ritchard in 1955 with Mike following in 1957. She remained at home with the kids, supporting their every need until her marriage dissolved. Betty then returned to the workforce to support her young family, first by work in the tobacco trade, followed by starting an answering service out of her home for local professionals. Betty always considered Simcoe to be home and was the only child in the family who left her hometown. However, she would return often to visit friends and family, no matter where she was living.
It was around this time that a gentleman by the name of William Ronald Stade happened to be in the Simcoe Legion playing in a dart tournament. As fate would have it, their paths crossed a few more times before their relationship flourished. Ron was working at Butler Manufacturing in Burlington at the time and Betty and the kids soon made the move to join him. Ron and Betty welcomed Duane in 1963 and Sherry in 1965. In addition to caring for her five children, Betty and Ron worked together to own and manage several enterprises, which included Park Land Paving, Dom Drives Paving, as well as a nursery and car simonizing business just to name a few.
In 1969 the family made the move to Walkerton, getting out of the city and closer to Ron’s family. Once again Betty helped Ron with their paving company’s office and administration duties. It was also at this time they became involved in CHWB Cable TV, where Ron acted as the anchor for the news at 6 and 11 p.m. Betty worked behind the scenes gathering the news, with Ritchard being given the task of typing the news. It was truly a family affair. Betty also worked as a cook at the WonderBar in Walkerton around this time, until a better opportunity presented itself in Chesley. It was the winter of 1980 and the Stade’s had the opportunity to buy the Hillside Restaurant in Chesley, so the family made the move north. In later years, they also purchased and operated the Water Slide property in Sauble Beach. However, it was in 1983 when Betty joined her son Duane at MEI that she found her true calling. For the next 34 years, Betty managed the MEI business alongside Theressa who handled the Bruce Service business. Betty with her loud and fiery demeanor, caused many of the 52 employees to tip-toe around the building! She was a very loyal individual that could be blunt if she had to. However, it was her sense of humour that many will remember as she could add humour to any situation.
In her younger years, she regularly owned and rode horses, as well as figure skated in her youth. In fact, practising with Barbara Ann Scott in Simcoe was definitely a highlight for Betty during her skating career. As the years passed, Betty was involved as a Lionette, a member of the Army Navy Club, Who Did It Club, a big supporter of the Legion and active in her church, helping with Sunday School and Altar Guild. She loved Halloween, decorating the entire house appropriately, before waiting eagerly for all the kids to visit. If Betty watched TV, it had to be a crime drama, biography, history show, with the odd wedding dress show thrown in. She was a voracious reader who would pick up any book, but if asked for a preference, she would be quick to tell that murder mysteries were the best.
What was Betty’s favourite pastime you may ask…. well BINGO of course! She would travel the area taking in as many Bingo games as her schedule would allow. Ron often joked that he was a widower every Thursday night as Betty was always out trying to win the next big jackpot! Ron also enjoyed to gamble and the couple spent a few nights in Vegas and Atlantic City over the years. Simply put, they loved to travel and often just got in the car and drove. Betty enjoyed baking and cooking for family and friends. She would always rise to the occasion and never disappoint, whether it was Roast Beef or a special dessert.
As is often the case, Betty’s family was everything to her. She led by example and passed down many of her strong characteristics and work ethics to her children. She would drop everything if needed by her family and was a constant pillar of support. She was recently asked if she had any regrets in life and responded with a quick “no”. She stated she had wonderful parents, loving siblings, great kids and loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and would have never changed a thing.
With that in mind, Betty passed away in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family on Monday, March 27, 2017 in her 80th year.
Beloved wife of the late Ron Stade. Cherished mother of Ritchard Taylor of Chesley, Lynda Taylor of Kincardine, Mike Taylor and his wife Lori of Goderich, Duane Stade and his wife Theressa of Chesley and Sherry Stade and her partner Steve Leitch of Kincardine. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren Jean, Joann, John, Ronald, Alynn, Amandalee, Tammy, Nathan, Rachel, Paul, Kyle, Vanessa, Josh, Jodie, Christopher, Sarah, Shantal and Emma. Loving great-grandmother of Steven, Samantha, Jasmine, Shailyn, Auzriel, Lucius, Aislynn, Lochlan, Douglas, Dominick, Mason, Brittney and Dylan. Betty was predeceased by her granddaughter Maryanne Kramer, brothers Walter, Lloyd, George and Jack Deming and sisters Phyllis Shortt and Elinore Reaney.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Sunday from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Betty’s life will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Chesley on Monday, April 3, 2017 at 2 p.m. Rev. Canon Linda Nixon officiating. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
