Obituary of Roberta Carol Halbakken

66, of Edmonds, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on August 30, 1942 in Seattle, WA, and was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Irene Huhta.Roberta is survived by her husband of 45 years, Warren Halbakken and her three children: daughter Stacy Twaddle and husband Eben, son Brian Halbakken and wife Peggy, daughter Leigh Ann Coleman and partner Jerry Yackley; grandson Noah Coleman and step-grandson Donny DeHart.An open viewing for friends and family will be held at Becks Funeral Home, 405 Fifth Ave. S in Edmonds, 425-771-1234, Thursday, July 9th from 1 7 P.M. A Funeral service will be held at Ballard First Lutheran Church located at 2006 NW 65th St., Seattle, Friday, July, 10th at 11:00 A.M. Burial will immediately follow services at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle.In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to The American Cancer Society. July 7, 2003 Eulogy For Our Mom: Beloved Wife, Sweet Dear Mom, and Loving NanaOur Mom was born in Seattle on Aug. 30, 1942 and passed away July 3, 2009. She lived in Ballard with her Mom and Dad, Frank and Irene Huhta, from the day she was born until she married Warren Halbakken in 1963. Our Mom was known for her quick wit, humor, practical jokes, love for animals, and opening her home to friends and family. As a child, Mom took road trips with her parents to Chicago in their 1955 Chevy Bel Aire and also went on several camping trips along the west coast. This 55 Chev still remains in our family today. Even in this difficult past year she enjoyed taking road trips with Warren. Most of their time was spent exploring Eastern Washington. A significant part of her adolescence was spent teaching herself how to sew. Her Mom had an old sewing machine in the basement and she spent hours learning how to make things. Also during her childhood, she spent many enjoyable days with her grandmother in Rainer Valley. Most Sundays they would attend Catholic Church together. She remembers walking to church with all the little Italian ladies in their Sunday dresses with black scarves tied around their heads. Mom was a Ballard High Beaver. There she met the one love of her life, Warren, at the age of 15. Warren began dating Bobbie in high school and then married her on January 5, 1963 at this very church. Mom graduated from Ballard High School in 1960. During high school she was on the schools swim team, she was an excellent swimmer. She made sure all us kids learned to swim as well. All of us were taking lessons before we entered kindergarten. After graduation she went to technical school to learn to be a key punch operator. After she completed school, she worked at Pemco Insurance Company in downtown Seattle. Once Mom decided to start a family she stopped working and stayed home to raise her three children; Stacy, Brian and Leigh Ann. Even though she could have had a professional career and would have enjoyed working outside the home, she dedicated her time to raise her children. She raised her children to be independent, to have a strong work ethic, and prepared them for life. She allowed us to make our own decisions and live by the consequences, but supported us regardless of the outcome. When she was in her mid-thirties she went back to college to take business classes while all the kids were in school. Our Mom had a passion for learning and continued to challenge herself by taking Spanish classes with her friend Val before she got sick. After she completed college, instead of getting a job within her studies, she had the opportunity to work as a seamstress making window treatments. She continued to do this line of work for 20 years. One year on April Fools Day, with her sewing skills and sense of humor combined, she sewed the inside sleeves of her fellow employees jackets together from the inside, keeping them from putting their arm through. She put her sewing talents to good use! When her grandson, Noah, was born she made the decision to work part-time in order to care for him when Leigh Ann went back to work. Mom enjoyed spending time with her grandson. Mom would do homework with Noah most days after school. She loved going to his baseball games and spending time with him at the family cabin in Plain, Washington.Holidays were always joyous, and were usually celebrated at her home. The house was always decorated with a theme of a particular holiday and most of the dcor displayed were things she made herself. One of her favorite holidays was Halloween. Not only did she sew her own costumes nearly every year she sewed costumes for friends and family as well. One year she dressed up as a member from the band Kiss and wore the costume to work complete with a black bra worn on the outside of her clothes.Eventually, she retired from the job she loved to care for her ailing parents. She spent the next three years dedicated to their care assuring them they would not be placed into a rest home. Our Mom was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in August of last year. This type of cancer can attack people who do not have a history of smoking. At that time the Dr. gave her 8 months to live. Upon her second visit, a month later, the cancer had progressed and he now told her she had only 4-6 months. Mom was a very strong woman, the last time she was in the hospital one of the nurses said, She sure isnt a complainer is she? On her good days, she still attended Noahs baseball games, traveled to the cabin and took part in what her kids were doing. She sarcastically commented to Warren 10 months after she was diagnosed, I showed that Dr. and made it longer than he expected. With Moms passing we are saddened because she had a lot of life left to live. She spent her entire life taking care of others and when it was her time to start living for herself her time was cut short. We kids would like to thank Dad for all your love and care you gave to Mom and we all know how much you loved and adored her. Our family would like to thank you for your love and support during theses trying times. And we would like to give a special thank you to Valerie Williamson and Lorraine Paynter. These were friends of Moms for many years. They were constantly by her side during the good days and bad days. My Mom enjoyed their company each and every moment. Mom, our lives will never be the same without you, but at the same time were all thankful that you are no longer are in pain. We love you and will miss you always.