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BETTY ELIZABETH HAYHURST
Date of Passing: Dec 28, 2025
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryBETTY ELIZABETH HAYHURST
Betty Elizabeth Hayhurst (nee Cousins) of Virden, Manitoba beloved wife of the late Gordon Hayhurst and loving mother of Dana Marie, Teresa, Katrina, Shauna and Julie, kicked up her heels and headed to the eternal dance hall, Tuesday, December 28, 2025, at 87 years of age.
Betty was born in ’38 and her early years were on the farm near Elkhorn, where she and her siblings rode to Mossgiel School on horse-pulled cutter. These were busy times but they still made Saturday night trips into Elkhorn to socialize. Following school, Mom began work in the Elkhorn bank. After Mom caught Dad’s eye at a local dance, she accepted his offer to walk her back to the home of Aunt Jenny and Uncle Ben Poston, where she was billeting. The courtship had begun. They married in St Mark’s Anglican, October ’57, and embarked upon their new life on a farm outside of Cromer.
Mom balanced motherhood, (7 babies in the course of 12 years), housework, sewing and mending clothes, gardening, and reading her favourite Louis L’Amour books - she loved the vivid landscape descriptions! She spent many hours creating Fortrel quilts with her mom, more quilts and denim projects for family members with daughter, Dana Marie, as well as mini-quilts for Cromer stick-horse rodeo raffle! Mom loved flora and fauna. She was one who stopped to ‘smell the roses’… and the tiger lilies, pussy willows, peonies, glads, daisies and pansies. Once they moved to town, she took up drawing again and learned how to draw and paint those flowers and much more. She made some pretty cute and creative cards for Dad early on, and then returned to crafting and learning other artistic techniques and ceramics. Her fauna interest often played out with a set of binoculars, handy for either Mom or Dad to pick out deer, raccoon, or other wildlife in the distance.
Curling wasn’t Mom’s thing, but when a curling trophy was created in Mark Cousins’ name, and later on, awarded to her husband’s team, she was delighted. Neat to have the two most important men in her life, linked to the same trophy. And Dance! From Cromer Clippers Square Dance Club to round dancing – Mom and Dad spent many miles on wheels and heels, dancing as “Pharr” south as Texas! Home or away, they had an open-door, open-arm policy... where they quietly, but whole-heartedly would greet new dance mates, family or friends. The smiles were automatic and the hugs were non-negotiable. Although recently, Mom’s mind and body betrayed her, her witty and kind soul stayed with her. When lost for words, the melody and lyrics of “You are my Sunshine” came forth… and she shared it with staff and family. The two of them dancing together, to the latest song she remembered, with their loving smiles… is a perfect picture to hold close!
For more than a decade, Teresa, Keith and family, have been on-call for Dad and Mom. Not everyone has family back home, willing and able to get involved in the well-being of their parents, so we are grateful for their time and heartache invested.
Mom is survived by her daughters: Dana Marie (Wes Baker), Teresa (Keith Lobel), Katrina (Dan Hotel), Shauna (Gord Lidgett) and Julie (Randy Bourque). She is also survived by grandchildren Ryan Menzul, Laura Heaman, Amanda (Bryce) Galbraith, Jolynn (Ryan) Chopp, Alastor Coubrough, Adam and Jason Bourque, and great-grandchildren, Sayli, Zane, Jacoby and Gracie; sister Mildred Canart, sister-in-law Susie; Dad's extended family; Ken and Darlene Wilson, Dorothy Holmgren.
Mom was predeceased by her loving husband, Gordon; infant children Nelson and Paula; her parents Mark and Polly Cousins, and siblings (in-laws); Doug (Irene), (Dan) Canart and Bill (Ruth), as well as Gordon’s parents Fred and Myrtle Hayhurst; Dad’s siblings (spouses): Aunt Bernice (raised as a sister)(Vaughn) Read, Jean (Buck) Madison/Wardman, Howard (Margaret), Nell (Bill) Breadner, Bill ‘Neil’ (Fern), Freda Mae 'Pie' Wilson.
A Celebration of Life for Gordon and Betty will be held at a later date with interment Virden Cemetery.
For those who so desire, memorial tributes may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer Society or Virden and District Health Auxiliary Remembrance Fund in memory of Betty.
As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 17, 2026