ALFRED AND BETSY YEA

Alf Yea, who was born in Newton, Abbott, England in 1888, met a Scottish lass, Betsy Patulla (born 1886, Iverkeillor, Scotland) in Calgary and married her there in 1909. They moved to Turner Valley from a farm in Airdrie in 1929.

Alf had worked for the Royalite Oil co. for only one week when he was fatally injured in an accident at Royalite No.14, across the road from the village of Turner Valley. He was standing with a group of spectators watching as the well was brought into production. The drill pipe was blown from the hole and landed among the onlookers, killing him and Murray McRae.

Betsy Yea, a sister of Mary Currie, had her home at Whiskey Row near the Curries and later moved into town beside them, although she was often away working. Her last job before retiring in 1954 was that of housekeeper for George Williams Sr., a founder of Williams Brothers store in Calgary, where many local folk shopped. In the years from 1954 to 1973 she was active in the United church and was well known for her excellent Scotch cooking. When she was 70 she joined a league and learned to bowl.

Betsy had a son Jim, who married Margaret Hill, 3 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. At the age of 92 she entered the Beverly Nursing Home in Calgary.

From, "IN THE LIGHT OF THE FLARES," pg 744
1979 published by The Sheep River Historical Society