Good afternoon, Colleagues. Rose Betthale-Reid was born at Macahish Lake, also known as Sandy Lake, on May 25th, 1954, to William and Germainie Betthale. With great sadness, she passed away on January 9th, 2025. For those who knew this lady, she wore many hats. Some would describe her as someone who fought for those less fortunate. Others, she was an interpreter that helped elders. Others, she was the person that would get on the stage to sing or make people laugh even if it was at her own expense. She loved it and didn't care.
I got to know her just before I became an MLA; however, I heard about her before that time. She was committed to getting things done, fight for the underdog, or correcting issues. I can confirm she had an amazing sense of humour. There were numerous times she had me laughing uncontrollably. I got to witness her and her husband's willingness to help out others. They made a great team.
Rosie loved her family deeply. She was always talking about her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and her husband Kyle. She was very proud of each of them and would show me pictures as she told me their stories. Where possible, she would stop in and see them. The last time I spoke to her was at the airport in Fort Simpson when she came to see her granddaughter who was working at the counter.
Rosie was very spiritual. She and her husband would pray anywhere and at ceremonies or on nature walks. They would feed the fire or water offering tobacco and food, sending their love to God and to the loved ones that passed on. When others passed away, she would gather a group of ladies to help clean the body one last time. As like all celebrations of life, there are so many aspects of a person's life you might miss. I have attached her eulogy done by her son Clinton Betthale and Joe Tambour and a poem done by her granddaughter which I would like them deemed as read and printed in the Hansard.
Colleagues, the family would like to thank all those people that provided support during this difficult time. I can tell you she will be sadly missed.
Eulogy: Clinton Betthale and Joe Tambour
This wonderful person, Rose Betthale-Reid was full of character was born at Macahish Sandy Lake on May 25, 1954, to William and Germainie Betthale.
Whoever would have thought this quiet, sad little girl who grew up in residential should, would grow up to become bigger than personality than anyone one. That she was.
She grew up to be the hilarious, outspoken, singer, dancer, hunter, fisher and just full of life. She loved life to the fullest.
An interpreter, she became, although her traditional language was not strong, she spoke up for people who were too shy or could not speak English. She would even get on the stage with her singing partner, Shirley Bertrand – Jooris. They dressed up and sang together. They would have everyone in an up-roar of laughter. Rosie lived to make people laugh. Even if it was her that they laughed at. She loved it and didn’t care.
On quiet moments she would reflect on the hardship and emotional pain she went through. Sadness would overwhelm her, but something would snap her out of it. She mischievously would smile and say, “Take me on now” and would laugh.
She loved her children and grandchildren even more. She relied on her oldest son Clinton for anything and like his mom, he’d support her in every way he can.
Rosie loved to pray anywhere. At ceremonies, she and her brother Louie would feed the fire, offering tobacco and food, sending her love to God, and loved ones that passed on.
At her Petitot camp, she would feed the water and birds. She and Kyle would thank God for everything every day.
Rosie loved to travel with Kyle. They went to Maui and to Jamacia. When they went to Jamaica one time, there was a concert for Bob Marley right in front of their hotel. They opened the balcony doors and windows to hear the music and watched the beautiful sun as it set. Then she told Kyle to take a photo of the sunset. As he struggled with the camera, the sun was gone down. They both stated laughing and couldn’t stop laughing. That’s when they realized they were stoned from the Marijuana smoke from all the people that were smoking it outside the hotel. So they closed the door and windows right away.
She always loved to share this story, as it got people laughing.
Her dancing partner was her husband, Kyle. Oh, those two loved to dance. This past Christmas holidays, there was a drum dance, and she had a surprise dancer. A little small had grabbed her hand and pulled her into the line of dancers. It was three-year-old Hayze McLeod. Rosie had tears in her eyes for this little dancer.
Rosie and Kyle loved helping people and they never asked for anything in return. Sometimes they would get people to chop wood for them. They would in return give them enough tobacco or a gift card. Both loved going for rides on the Cole’s Lake Road. Every time she sees tracks (moose or caribou) they would stop, and she would check to see how fresh the tracks were. She became a good shot too. She usually got what she hunted. One time one of her son’s Steven said “she shot two bush chickens. As she ran after them, she tripped and fell and disappeared in the bush. He yelled to see if she was ok then that is when she pooped out holding the two bush chickens, yelling “I got them” with a big Rosie laughter.
Her happiest day was when her and Kyle got married on June 29, 1995, on the front lawn of her late brother William Betthale.
She loved fishing, hunting, going for drives, singing and dancing. She did everything she wasn’t allowed to do, when she was young. She wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she didn’t care. She’ll just laugh and say “Ehh, who cares?” Rosie left so suddenly but left a legend.
Poem: Rosie
If roses grow in heaven, Lord
please pick a bunch for me place them in my
Grandma’s arm and tell her they are from me.
tell her I love her and miss her and when she
Turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and
hold her for a while.
God saw she was getting tired, and a cure was
not to be.
So, he put his arms around her and whispered,
“Come with me.”
With tear-filled eyes we watched her suffer and fade away.
Although we loved her deeply, we could not
make her stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working
hands put on rest.
God broke our heart to prove to us he only
takes the best.
Read by Megan Steeves
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