Betty Lou passed away surrounded by her loving family at the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the age of 84.

Betty Lou was born on September 13, 1938, to Louis and Ruby (nee Macklin) O’Rourke in Westlock, AB. She spent most of her youth in Rio Grande and came to Grande Prairie at the age of 17 to begin working. She immediately joined the St. Joseph’s Church Choir, a commitment to which she devoted over 60 years of her life.

Betty Lou met Mike Lynch in 1959 after his arrival to Grande Prairie in 1958. They were married in June of 1961, and were blessed with four children: Dawn Marie, Bryan, Larry, and Erin. When Erin was about 5, Betty Lou felt called to go back to school, she finished her high school education and graduated from the Grande Prairie Regional College with a diploma in secretarial science in 1976.

Over her lifetime, Betty Lou worked at Watchers Jewelers, the Woman’s Army Corp, the local radio station CFGP, Northern Plywoods, and Canfor. After her graduation, she worked for the Federal Business Development Bank and then she spent the last 17 years of her career at the Grande Prairie Regional College until she retired in 1994.

Betty Lou was a musical, artistic, and creative soul. She had beautiful flower gardens; she especially loved peonies and roses. Her sweet peas at her family home on 92nd Avenue were showstoppers.

Betty Lou will be remembered through the music she was a part of. She played numerous instruments over the years including the guitar, piano, accordion, ukelele, mandolin and her favorite of all, the violin. She was part of the Ma Pa Band. She played and sang at Seniors Centres with other musicians and friends. She loved a good sing song with family and friends. She loved going to Jamborees and Fiddle Fests. Unfortunately, after 2 strokes, a broken wrist, and then a concussion between 2013 and 2015 she could no longer play her beloved instruments. She still loved any chance to be a part of a sing song or music session going on around her. Betty Lou sang for as long as she possibly could, and once that became difficult, she kept a beat to the music, content to be surrounded by it. In her last few months, she loved the mornings her daughter Erin would come and play the Ukelele for her at the Care Centre.

We also have many lasting memories of Betty Lou in her paintings. She was a talented painter, using watercolours, acrylics, and oils.

Betty Lou lived a life of faith, devotion, and prayer. She was an active member of the community at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. In her early years as a member of the Catholic Youth Organization and the Catholic Women’s League. In her later years with the Charismatic Renewal, Life in the Spirit Seminars and the Cursillo movement to name a few.

Sadly, in 1982 Betty Lou lost her husband Mike, after a 7-year battle with emphysema. She was left to finish raising her children on her own. She was grateful for her faith, the comfort of playing her musical instruments and the community that helped her through those challenging years. She was a strong woman and overcame many mountains in her lifetime, an admirable example for her family and friends.

Betty Lou met Vince Noonan a few years later on the dance floor. Dancing was another one of her passions. They were married in 1989 and have been blessed to spend the past 34 years together.

Her Irish heritage was very important to her: she loved the music, and she loved the culture. One of her favorite memories was the trip she made to Ireland with Vince.

Betty Lou will be sadly missed by her husband Vince Noonan; her children: Dawn Marie Crouse, Bryan (Mary-Ann) Lynch, Larry (Michelle Martin) Lynch, and Erin (Vince Hulan) Lynch; grandchildren: Kathleen (Matt Ruddell) Crouse, Daine (Tiffany) Montgomery, Michael (Amanda) Crouse, Nikki (Todd Moulun) Montgomery, David (Jesse Arduini) Crouse and Nathan (Laura) Crouse, Kelan, Caitlyn and Miriam Lynch, and Jonathan Hulan; great-grandchildren: Huxley, Sybil, Myles and Jake Crouse, Westin and Nathaniel Montgomery, Aiden, and Natalie Ruddell and Zoey Moulun; sister Gail Kaczkielo; brother-in-law Father Kevin Lynch OFM and sister-in-law Elaine O’Rourke; as well as her husband Vince’s daughters: Kyla (Wayne McLauchlan) Noonan, children Korbin and Karra, and Bridget (Karl Reinders) Noonan and children Kaylee and Brianne.

Betty Lou was predeceased by her husband Mike Lynch; siblings Maureen Biegel and Patrick O’Rourke; brothers-in-law Frank Biegel and Ed Kaczkielo; as well as son-in-law Merv Crouse.

A Prayer Service will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 7:00pm, at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005-107 Ave.). It will be followed by a musical social with the family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:00am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grande Prairie (10404-102 Street). Please join the family for a time of fellowship in Tranquille Hall at the church following the interment.

A Livestream of the service will be accessible 15 minutes prior to the service on Betty Lou’s obituary on Oliver’s Funeral Home website. The link will take you to Oliver's Funeral Home Facebook page and will be streamed via Facebook Live. Click on the Videos Tab to watch the recorded service.