BAEKKEN (Macdonald), Elizabeth Marie "Bette"

Bette Marie sadly passed away in her sleep on December 10, 2020 in Kongsberg, Norway. Born in Sunny Brae on November 22, 1931, she was the daughter of Harris and Cassie Bell (Mackinnon) MacDonald, and sister of Edna Cameron (Sutherland). After finishing high school in New Glasgow 1948, Bette went to Halifax and eventually began nurse’s training at the Victoria General Hospital, from where she graduated in 1954. She later worked at the VG and at the Nova Scotia Tumor Clinic and in Public Health Nursing in Halifax. Along the way she met a handsome Norwegian engineer, Asbjorn, who was working at Fairey Aviation Company at Shearwater. They married in Stellarton in August 1958. They settled in Dartmouth and started to raise a family, resulting in four kids between 1959 and 1968. When Fairey moved to Western Canada in 1970, they relocated the family to Kongsberg, Norway, where Bette has lived since. She requalified for nursing in Norway in 1978 and worked as a nurse at the local hospital in Kongsberg until 1992. She then worked as a nurse and office administrator at a nursing home until she retired in 1999. Bette was back in Nova Scotia once for a short visit and reunion in 1984. Bette’s husband Asbjorn struggled with his health for several years, and died in 2001. Bette enjoyed working life more than retirement, but kept busy with knitting, fixing up her house and writing letters and emails. She was an early adapter of the web, and kept herself and her family up to date with news of all kinds until quite recently. Bette is survived by her children, Pieter, Ann, Jane and Paul David (Eva) who have all inherited her good looks, wit and humour. She also leaves behind grandsons, Nicholas, Daniel, Thomas and David, and foster grandson, Rahmat, all living in Norway; as well as nieces and nephews and extended family both in Norway and Canada. The funeral service has taken place. You are welcome to send condolences or memories: baekken@gmail.com or by visiting: https://buskerud.vareminnesider.no/