Sophia Magdalena Betzner^[1]

1891 - 1988  (97 years)

• Name	Sophia Magdalena Betzner
  Born	2 Dec 1891	, Ontario, Canada   [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Female
  Occupation	CA 1907	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	telephone operator
  		NewHamburg-Telephone-001-WaterlooHistoricalSociety.jpg The New Hamburg telephone office photo dates from the same time as the Elmira view, circa 1907. John P. Ernst, prominent businessperson, postmaster, store owner and machinist recognized modern technology and greeted it. He organized Elmira’s first telephone service, with the switchboard office situated beside his Huron Street store. Sophia Betzner is at the circuit board here and colleagues Vera Haussamen and Elena Betzner complete the telephonic trio. A short time after this photo, the building burnt down; within days, J.P. had a temporary system in place for the village’s 50 or so customers. - Waterloo Historical Society
  Occupation	1911	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Milliner - Baker store
  Residence	1911	New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Lutheran
  Eby ID Number	00006-0958.8
  Died	6 Dec 1988	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 5]
  Buried	Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2, 5]
  Person ID	I9881	Generations
  Last Modified	17 Feb 2026

  
  

  Father	Isaac Betzner,   b. 2 Dec 1848, Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 7 Apr 1926, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Catharine Ernst,   b. 3 Oct 1852, Petersburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Oct 1931, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 78 years)
  Married	11 Mar 1880  [6]
  Family ID	F2835	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Betzner, Miss Sophia Magdalena - On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 1988, at Freeport Hospital, Kitchener, Sophia Betzner, formerly of 247 Franklin St. N., Kitchener. She had resided in Kitchener and had been employed for many years at Dominion Tire and latterly at Schnarr's Florists. She was born in Baden, 97 years ago, a daughter of the late Isaac Betzner and the former Catherine Ernst. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hamburg. Lovingly remembered by one sister, Mrs. Elena Ritz of New Hamburg; three nephews, Emmett Kropf of Kitchener, Dick Ritz and Ernie Ritz, both of New Hamburg; a niece, Mrs. Gladys Kropf of Waterloo. She was predeceased by two brothers, Ervin and William; two sisters, Loualice and her husband Nicholas Wenzel and Lorena and her husband Norman Kropf; a brother-in-law, Otto Ritz and one nephew, Lorne Kropf. Friends and relatives may call at the Mark Jutzi Funeral Home, 291 Huron St., New Hamburg, after 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) and until tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 8, 1988) at noon, when transfer will be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, for the service at 2 o'clock p.m., Rev. A. Lavergne officiating. Internment to follow in Riverside cemetery, New Hamburg. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund. Kitchener-Waterloo Record, December 7, 1988

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 249. [S74] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Kitchener-Waterloo Record (1948-1994), December 7, 1988. Obituary of Sophia Betzner [S307] Census - ON, Waterloo, New Hamburg - 1901, New Hamburg (Village) E-1 Page 10. [S1054] Census - ON, Waterloo, New Hamburg - 1911, p. 27;. [S153] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wilmot - Riverside New Hamburg CC#4564 Internet Link. Sophia M. Betzner/ 1891-1988/ Rest in peace [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 248.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 2 Dec 1891 - , Ontario, Canada Occupation - telephone operator - CA 1907 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Milliner - Baker store - 1911 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lutheran - 1911 - New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 6 Dec 1988 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth