DONNA (ASKIN) BATES

Donna Christine, the youngest child of Ernie and Lil Askin, was
bom February 12. 1962. She attended Burnside, Yellowquill and
pomge Collegiate schools.'Follow1ng high school she took some
further education at Red River Community College in Winnipeg.
Mm this, in 1981, she obtained employment at Vopni Press and is
still working there today in the Photocomposition Department.

On October 16, 1982, she married Kelly Bates of Portage. They
had a son, Jamie Lee, born April 3, 1983, and have since separated.
Donna, with her son, Jamie, lives in Portage.

Aunt Lizzie - Mid l940'r.

ELIZABETH ASKIN

by Aunt Uzzit’s niece, Miriam. [990

Elizabeth Askin was born November 7, 1883 at the farm home of
her parents at MacDonald. Manitoba. She was the third child (from a
family of eleven) of James and Ellen Askin. She never married, but
remained in the district, housekeeping for her two brothers, Roy and
George, for many years. When George left she stayed on with Roy.

From 1916 she worked in various homes in the Burnside district
and elsewhere as a practical nurse - always on call when anyone was
in need of help. She assisted with the births of over 100 babies
during this period of community service.

“Aunt Lizzie“, the name by which she was affectionately known
by so many in the area, loved her garden. She always planted far
more than she could use. Relatives and friends from Winnipeg and
other areas never went home without several bags of fresh garden
produce.

Evidence of the high esteem in which “Aunt Lizzie“ was held in
Burnside district and many distant places was revealed on July 31,
1952, when a surprise presentation for her outstanding service to the
Community was made to her at the annual picnic held on the Treffry
farm. Her grand-niece, Carolyn Askin, presented her with a lovely
bouquet of flowers. Mrs. Vernon Olmstead of Carberry presented
‘ her with a purse of money, inside which was a beautiful gold watch.

Many 0f “Aunt Lizzie‘s children“ and their parents came from far
and wide to attend this celebration.

She was a quiet, unassuming lady, who, I am sure, has been in
every home in the district. either as a nurse or just a friendly visitor.
She looked after her invalid mother, Ellen Askin, during the summer
months to relieve Tom and Clara Askin and Ella and Andrew Knox,
who alternated looking after Ellen the rest of the time.

When Roy sold the farm to his brother George and wife Glenna in
195.9. and moved to BC, Lizzie went to Bagot to help her niece
(Miriam Nichol and her husband, Gordon) kill chickens and re-
mained with them for the next ten years.

While there, Miriam planned a surprise 80th birthday party in
19%3. at which over 100 relatives and friends called to wish her
we ,

1n the spring of 1969 Aunt Lizzie had the misfortune of falling
down the stairs, breaking both bones of her lower left leg. She was
hospitalized in Portage for several weeks. When she was discharged,
she was unable to return to the farm at Bagot because of the many
steps. A friend, Mina Knight of Portage, took her in as a temporary
house guest. While there on April 20, 1969 our dear aunt took a
heart attack and died peacefully in her bed.

So ended the life of “Aunt Lizzie" - a kind, generous, thoughtful
person who devoted her life to helping others. She will always be
remembered with loving thoughts by her family and many friends.

THE WILLIAM BATTERS FAMILY
Contributed by Loyal! Barter:

William Batters married Catherine Welsh in 1858 in Welsely,
Ontario. There were four sons and three daughters born in Ontario.
Albert Edward in 1860, William John, in 1863, Elizabeth Anne
(Polly), in 1865, Thomas Alexander, in 1872, Mary Jane, (Minnie)
in 1873, Richard James, in 1877 and Katherine Letticia, (Kit) in
1879.

Mr. and Mrs. William Batters and family came to Portage la
Prairie Manitoba in 1882, from the county of Huron, township of
Howick, village of Carrie, Ontario.

Mr. Batters farmed in the Burnside district until 1885, when he
and his family moved to the West Prospect district to farm a half
section known as the David Yuill farm, one half mile north and one
half mile west of the West Prospect school, on the north side of the
road.

In 1890, they and their family settled a few miles south of
Holland, Man.

In 1895 they and their family moved to Cypress River where they
settled on a farm south of town, 21‘6-12, Municipality of Lorne.

In 1907 they and Richard James moved to a farm one mile east of
the town of Cypress River where they lived for five years. In 1912
Mr. and Mrs. William Batters moved into a house on Railway Street
in Cypress River.

William Batters passed away on February 17, 1914 in Cypress
River. Mrs. William Batters passed away on April 29, 1916 while
visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Beacock in Mortlack,
Saskatchewan. Both Mr. and Mrs. Batters are buried in Glenco
Cemetery, Cypress River, Manitoba.

Elizabeth Anne (Polly) married Edward Sparling of Portage la
Prairie, she passed away in 1889. There was no family from this
marriage.

Albert Edward married Emma Louise Graham in 1888, and took
over the Mark Graham farm, S.E. half and NE. quarter of section
29-12—7 in the Belle Plain district. Harold Edward, father of Shirley,
(Mrs. Arden Christianson), Mary Evelyn (Myra) and Vera Catherine
were born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

William John married Annie McDougal in 1891. At that time he
started up a business in Holland, Manitoba and they settled there. It
was here that Percy McClair, Flora Alexander, William Duncan and
Mark Fortune were born.

Mary Jane (Minnie) married Arthur Beacock in 1900, Arthur
Beacock operated a hardware store in Holland, Manitoba. Melvin
Arthur was born in Holland. Mr. and Mrs. Beacock moved to
Saskatchewan where Roy English, Kathleen Pearl and Marian
Eileen were born.

Catherine Letticia (Kit) married William Beacock in 1902 and
moved to Alberta where Aleta, Emma and Earl were born.

Thomas Alexander married Mabel Sarah English in 1907 and
took over the farm south of Cypress River 21-642, Municipality of
Lorne, from his father. It was on this farm that Florence Viola,