Larson, Rietta Ruth
April 8, 1933-January 22, 2016
Our mom passed away peacefully in Vernon almost 4 years after suffering a debilitating stroke which left her unable to speak and confined to a wheelchair. Mom was born in Regina, grew up in Sardis BC, and graduated as an R. N. from the St. Paul’s Hospital School of Nursing in Vancouver in 1954. Shortly after that she married Allan Beaton. Together they had 3 daughters and moved to Toronto for 6 years while Dad worked for the Toronto Telegram. When he passed away in 1967 mom moved us all back to BC where she started the hobby farming phase of her life, which was to last until her stroke. During this time she worked as an RN at Cedar Hill Hospital in Langley. A few years later she married Vern Larson. Over the years they lived in Surrey, Malakwa and Summerland raising beef cattle, chickens, turkeys and pigs. Every year Mom planted a huge vegetable garden, supplying seedlings, flowers, fruits and veggies to neighbours and friends. She was a tireless worker- always planting, weeding, canning, freezing, tending to her flower beds, sewing and baking. Her favourite place to be was in the sun, working in the garden. She truly had 2 green thumbs! She was generous with the products of her labour, and always honest and kind. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Lorne and Vida Belle Hawthorne, her sister Helen Hawthorne, her first husband, Allan Beaton, and her second husband Vern Larson. She will be remembered by her 3 girls, Kathleen Cameron (Hugh) of Vernon; Patricia Tennant (Dave) of Surrey, and Kelley Siba (John) of Langley, 2 stepsons, Bob and Bill Larson and their families, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great grand children. There will be an informal celebration of Rietta’s life May 1st at the Summerland Ornamental Gardens from 11am-1pm. Many thanks to all the very special staff at Creekside Landing in Vernon for your kind and loving care of our mom the last 3 1/2 years.