Alberta M. Harris Haltom
Alberta Haltom, 104, passed away in her sleep the morning of November 28 at St. Peter’s Hospital with family present, and visiting often, due to complications from a stroke she suffered in late September.
Alberta was born in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas on July 9, 1912 to Albert and Regina Harris. Her parents owned a café where she spent many hours as a child “helping the cooks” and learning southern hospitality. At the age of 10 she moved to Chariton, Iowa to be with an ill grandmother, where her parents opened the Harris Café 2 and raised chickens in their back yard. Following high school, Alberta graduated from business school in Ottumwa, Iowa and then worked as a secretary for the Navy Department. This assignment ended up being “a thousand miles to romance” as there she became reacquainted with the man who would become her husband in 1937 – Olin “Olie” Haltom (who was also from her small Iowa hometown and had graduated in accounting during this time).
After 5 years in Washington D.C., Olie was transferred to Detroit and then to Jackson, Michigan the following year. This is where their daughter, Sandra, was born, attended school through graduation from the University of Michigan, and met and was married to Walter Jankowski. Before Sandra was old enough to attend school and after the death of Alberta’s father, her mother Regina came to live with she and Olie. This allowed Alberta to go back to work as an administrative secretary at the Social Security office for 20 years while Sandra received loving care from Regina while Alberta was at work. For pleasure, Alberta and Olie were part of a biweekly potluck and cards club, a dance club, and later played golf. She became an organizing member of a PEO chapter in Jackson.
When Sandy and Wally moved to Montana following their graduation, Alberta and Olie were able to retire and move to Sun City, Arizona. There they enjoyed the warm climate, played lots of golf, and made many new friends. Olie died in 1980, but Alberta kept busy with trips to Montana, riding a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when she was close to 70 years old – having never ridden a horse before, with friends on an Alaskan cruise, and later a month long trip camping with neighbors touring New Zealand and Australia.
Very special to Alberta were the week long summer visits from her grandchildren, one at a time as teenagers. Then, in 1986, she showed her daughter’s family around Washington D.C.
As was typical of that “greatest generation,” friendships were deep and lasting. So after 22 years and the loss of her dearest friends in Arizona, Alberta returned to Jackson to live in a retirement community along with several close friends from her past. There she enjoyed playing bridge, playing golf (until she was 90!), volunteering for Meals on Wheels, volunteering in the church office, and delivering snacks to the attached nursing home.
At age 93 she spent a summer in Helena, Montana with Sandy trying out a nearby apartment at Hunter’s Pointe. During that time, she enjoyed scrapbooking with Sandy and new friend Martha Haddock, sapphire hunting with granddaughter Lisa, a birthday celebration at a Forest Service lookout, riding in a horse-drawn wagon to dinner in a tipi with campfire entertainment, a trip to a production of Mary Poppins in Spokane, the birth of her third great granddaughter, Brynn, and TV nearly every evening at Sandy’s home. Still it took her 2 more years until she was finally ready to give the OK to move to Helena, lured by the joy of life among her grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she described as the “pride of her life”. While in Helena, she attended her great grandchildren’s school and sports events for as long as she was physically able to negotiate the uneven ground at soccer fields and flights of stairs. Blessedly, St. Paul’s church has an elevator allowing her to sit in the balcony with her family each Sunday (until well past 104!) and enjoy the glorious views of Mount Helena out of the church’s clearstory which her grandson Mark helped build.
A week before her passing, Alberta met her great-great-granddaughter, Betty, for the first time.
Alberta was preceded in death by her parents Regina and Albert, and husband Olin.
Alberta is survived by daughter Sandra; granddaughter Lisa; grandsons Mark and Daniel (Elizabeth); great granddaughters Mykaela Edwards, Darian Anderson, and Brynn Jankowski; great grandsons Reid and Christian Jankowski; and by great-great granddaughter Betty Lynn Anderson.
A service celebrating Alberta’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9th at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 512 Logan Street. A luncheon reception will follow the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Alberta will be buried in Roseland Memorial Gardens in Jackson, Michigan. Memorial donations in Alberta’s name are suggested to Intermountain Children’s Home, 3240 Dredge Dr., Helena, MT 59602 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Laura Barry says
My prayers & thoughts are with all of Alberta’s family. May you find comfort from family memories & knowing she is at peace with her loving Lord. My deepest sympathy.
Rita Newman says
To Sandy and family. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Cherish the memories. Not many of us get to live as long as she did. I know I will cherish the times I visited her.She is at peace with The Lord . What a nice thought that later on ,you all will meet again. Sandy,you had a wonderful mother. She wii be missed.
Patricia Hasty says
So many happy memories of Great Aunt Alberta. Proud to have shared her birthday! Thankful for her joyous spirit and contagious laugh. She exemplified a godly peace and perseverance. Praying peace and comfort to you, Sandy.
Debbie hurni says
May our Lord give you peace of mind knowing Alberta is with him. My mom, Zona was Alberta’s friend & neighbor at Hunters Pointe. Alberta was one of the kindest people we ever knew. She always remembered me when I came to visit. She had a very sweet disposition. Alberta brought my mom cookies almost every day & weekly she took my mom’s trash to the bin. We will miss her. Love her dearly.
God bless
Zona, Debbie & Neal
Patti Goe says
My sincere condolences to your family. Alberta was a member of our Green Tees Golf League here in Jackson, Mi. She was such a kind generous person, a delight to play a round of golf with & always a funny conversationalist at lunch afterwards. She & Virginia May were known as the Vista Grand Gals & we sure missed them after they retired. I did get to visit Alberta & her daughter in the hospital just prior to her move to Montana. She will always be in our hearts & I know she was loved.
With Deepest Sympathy,
Patti Goe
.