DAFT, Betty June

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June 23, 1930 – June 13, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Betty June Daft (née Newman) on June 13, 2021. After a lengthy and courageous battle with dementia, she passed peacefully while surrounded by her loving family.

Betty was a lifelong resident of Kelowna, BC, born to Ivor and Elva Newman on June 23, 1930. She began her public career demonstrating food events for Safeway, soon becoming a prominent influence in her community.  Because of her talents, she was chosen to become the first Canadian “Miss Betty”, teaching preschoolers on live television for the popular children’s program “Romper Room”.

She enjoyed MC’ing many fashion show events, while more television programs followed, including hosting and cooking on “What’s Cooking” and the interview talk show “Let’s Visit”. She was later sought out after retirement to again be the dynamic host of the popular local talk show program “Plus Generation” while well into her 60s, earning the affectionate moniker of “The Oprah of the Okanagan”.

Betty was a loving homemaker and talented gardener and cook, inspiring family generations of food lovers and terrific cooks. She was creative, expressing her talent as an accomplished artist in painting, she belonged to the Kelowna Palette Club and contributed to many art collectors and family walls.  Maui was Betty’s favourite place in the world to visit.

Betty’s style was also apparent in her impeccable fashion sense, she was always beautifully dressed in every detail.

Betty was predeceased by her husband George Daft; her parents Ivor & Elva Newman; and her brothers Philip, Bill, and Ross Newman. Left to treasure her memory are her children Sherry, Carol (Pat), Virginia (Jerry); grandchildren Lisa (Scott), Patrick (Lianna), Christie (Trevor), Tobias (Jackie), and Jeremy (Kate); great-grandchildren Alexa, Will, Claire, Selah, Chole, Isabelle, Ashton, Luke, Madilyn, and Levi; as well as her sisters Lola Lavier and Judy Bernert; and her sisters-in-law Betty Kerr, Rita Newman, and Marilyn Newman.

Our family would like to thank her dear friend Mac Leech, who treated Mom like an Angel during their time together, and the staff of Village at Mill Creek, for the kind and compassionate care they so generously gave Betty.

Due to the current pandemic, no formal celebration will be held. Family and friends will honour Betty, each in their own way. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the MS Society of Canadaor the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia.

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