Long-time volunteer and family matriarch
Elizabeth “Betty” Luella Mickelberry (née Pringle), a familiar face in Red Deer’s volunteer circles and a woman whose family was central to her life, died peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the age of 87.
Born on May 21, 1939, on a family farm near Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Betty was one of 16 children of William and Annie Pringle. Her early years on the farm and first job at the Red and White Store in Carnduff instilled in her a strong work ethic that carried through decades of employment and community service.
Career and community contributions
Betty spent more than 20 years working at Safeway, where colleagues remember her attention to detail and her tidy presentation. Outside of paid work she was an active volunteer. She knitted hundreds of hats for newborns during her service at the Red Deer Regional Hospital and helped with the Festival of Trees, contributing time and craft to local charitable efforts.
"Forever loved. Forever remembered. Forever in our hearts."
She was also a long-standing member of the Oil Wives Club, joining early in life and maintaining friendships from that time for decades. Her hobbies included curling, dancing and puzzle-solving — pursuits neighbours and family say kept her engaged and social throughout her life.
Family and legacy
Betty married James “Jim” Mickelberry on April 24, 1957. The couple shared more than 60 years of marriage before Jim’s death in October 2017. Family was the centrepiece of Betty’s life: she considered her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren her greatest accomplishment.
- Children: Rod Mickelberry (Vienxgay), Darlene Spicer, Kevin Mickelberry (Monica), Karen Peden (Tom)
- Grandchildren: Trisha; Jessica (Sean); Robyn (Kyle); Samantha (Jim); Blair (Shelby)
- Great-grandchildren: Dustin, Bridget, Hannah, Larry, Hazel
Survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a large extended family, Betty’s life is being remembered for generosity, resilience and quiet strength — traits her family says were shaped by growing up in a very large rural household.
| Born | May 21, 1939 — near Carnduff, Saskatchewan |
|---|---|
| Died | July 27, 2026 — Red Deer, Alberta |
| Celebration of Life | Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, 11:00 a.m. — Parkland Funeral Home, 6287–67A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer |
Local impact
Red Deer relies on volunteers to support health-care facilities and charitable initiatives; Betty’s decades of service at the hospital and participation in community events illustrate the quiet backbone of civic life. Knitting hats for newborns is a small, tangible contribution that directly touches families during an important time, and the Festival of Trees helps fund local causes — both efforts where Betty played a visible role.
Her involvement in the Oil Wives Club also reflects a generation of families tied to Alberta’s energy sector, social networks that helped newcomers and long-time residents alike build community in cities such as Red Deer. Those connections, and the people who sustain them, shape the social fabric of the city.
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared through Parkland Funeral Home. Arrangements are being handled locally.
Note: A formal celebration of Betty’s life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home on Aug. 15, where friends and family will gather to mark her life and contributions to Red Deer.
