Submitted by Gwen Atwood George

Webmaster's Note:
Eliza Jane Betts is the eldest child of Richard Samuel Betts and Sarah Jane Boulton. Her brother, Alma Betts, is  the father of Howard Bolton Betts, the father of the webmaster for the Bettsclan website, Bartly Betts.

Eliza's brothers and sisters are:
- Richard Samuel Betts
- Alma Betts
- Peter Franklin Betts
- Laura Betts
- David Baldwin Betts

Eliza was born on January 1st, 1871, in Payson, Utah, USA.  She was the first child born to Richard Samuel Betts and Sarah Jane Boulton.  On 20th of August 1890, when she was nineteen years of age, she married David Richardson, in Benjamin, Utah, and they resided there until they left for Canada. Their six oldest children were born in Benjamin.

In 1902 Eliza’s father, Richard Samuel Betts, had moved to Canada, and he talked David and Eliza to move there with their children.  It was May 10, 1903 that they arrived in Raymond, Alberta, Canada.  And it was here that their three youngest children was born.

She was the mother of nine children, eight girls and one boy.  Sarah, Luella, David Samuel, Leah, Lorena, Ella, Verda, Laura and Jane.  She was a very hard worker, always growing a large garden to help feed her children, taking in washing and sewing and doing housekeeping to supplement the family income. She was also a mid-wife to many of the ladies in Raymond.  Her hands were never idle, she would darn socks by lamp light, and prepare for the next day.  In her later years she would do beautiful embroidery work, she was a perfectionist, the stitches were perfect and the back of the item was as beautiful as the front.  Much of her work is treasured by some of her grandchildren today.

When she was in her late forties her third child, Luella, passed away from cancer.  Once again she had babies to care for, Jim and Earl, but you never heard her complain.  They raised these boys to be fine members of the community, hard workers, and well liked by all.  David’s health started to deteriorate in the mid thirties, a lung illness that I’m sure was partly from working in the TinTic coal mines of Utah.  Eliza shouldered the extra responsibilities without a complaint.  One year after they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, David passed away.

Eliza continued planting a large garden and the kids never went hungry.  She lived on her own
until the early 1950’s.  I remember her sister Laura, and brother Peter coming from the States to
visit.  And her brother Alma lived in Raymond for many years, where he ran a shoe repair
business.  She remained independent until cancer once more made an appearance in the family,
and when she became unable to live alone she lived mostly with her daughter Laura and her
family.  Grandma was a diabetic for years and I remember watching her give herself penicillin
injections each day.  Believe me, the needles were not the same as the small ones used today, and I remember at times it literally took a hunk of skin out!

She passed away in Raymond on July 10, 1952 and both her and grandpa are buried in the
Raymond ‘Temple Hill Cemetery’.  She was a small, petite woman, with a big heart and the
strength of a giant but the gentleness of a lamb.  A true pioneer, home-maker, wife, mother and
grand mother. Much of her posterity lives in Southern Alberta, and we gather every three years to renew our ties.

Sarah: married (1) Helmer Flexhaug (D)  (2) James Ingram and they had one child.

Luella: married Alexander Crawford and they had nine children

David Samuel: married Ethel May White and they had eight boys and one girl.

Leah: married Melvin Flexhaug and they had two children.

Lorena: married Peter Flexhaug and they had nine children.

Ella Dean: married Chris Flexhaug and they had seven children.

Verda Mazie: married Samuel Park Tynan and they had five children.

Annie 'Laura': married Arthur Eugene Atwood and they had five children.

Eliza 'Jane': married Delbert Vernon Gourley and they had two children.

Quite a record ... four Richardson sisters married four Flexhaug brothers!

Of the nine children born to David and Eliza, only the youngest one, ‘Jane’, is still alive and living back in Raymond at the Ridge View Lodge.  She celebrated her 91st birthday in January 2003.

                                                Submitted by
                                        Gwen Atwood George
                                                      2003