OLDS — Betty Reader, a member of the Canadian Women's Army Corps during the Second World War, turns 99 in February.
Betty is proud of her service, but would have liked to have done more.
Specifically, she would have liked to join her husband, Jack Reader, who fought in Europe, including D-Day and Dunkirk.
During the war, Betty served as a secretary in the Canadian military, including Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, typing letters and documents.
“I was quite proud. I was hoping to get overseas. I was married then and my husband went overseas," Betty said during an interview at a luncheon in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 in Olds.
She displayed a picture of herself in uniform.
“A very attractive lady,” one diner said.
“Very spiffy,” another said.
Betty said during the war, she tried very hard to get posted overseas.
Twice she put herself in a position to be posted there and each time, it didn’t happen.
“Oh, was I ever mad," she recalled with a laugh.
Jack served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and managed to survive.
“Just the lobe of his ear was missing. That's all,” Reader said. “He was lucky.”
Betty was asked if her husband ever talked about his wartime experiences.
“Not much, not much," she said. “They never do.”
After the war, Jack got a job with Eatons, but hated it, so he and Betty bought a farm in Manitoba.
They had two children. One daughter is still alive. The other was killed in a highway accident.
They farmed for 15 or 20 years before deciding to give that up after suffering two crop failures in a row.
They each got other jobs and eventually moved to Torrington, where Cheryl, one of their daughters, had been living.
“I think we came here on a holiday or something and we liked the place and there was a house for rent. Later on, we bought it – in Torrington,” she said.
Jack died about 30 years ago, and another man in Betty’s life, Jim, passed away in 2010.
Betty lived in the house in Torrington as long as she could, but eventually moved to Olds.
"Unfortunately, when you don’t live in a centre like Olds, it’s almost impossible to get help,” a friend of hers said.
“I’m quite happy here,” Reader said, adding her friend and his wife take her out for various outings.
