Roberta Jean Kelley, lovingly known as Bobbie, Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma, died at the age of 79 on the morning of September 2, 2014, surrounded by her loved ones in her home. She was tenderly cared for by her three sons, her daughter, and her husband during her brief battle with cancer. She is already missed.
Bobbie was born on May 12, 1935, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota to Roland and Ruth Christie. Her father died one month before her birth. When Bobbie was two years old, she had polio, and she struggled bravely with the effects of that disease for all of her life. In 1941, when Bobbie was 6, her mom married Lester Engen, and the family moved to Seattle for the duration of World War II. At the end of the war, they moved back to Thief River Falls for a few years before moving to Bozeman, Montana, and Montana became their home. Bobbie graduated from Gallatin County High in 1953 and was married to M. James Kelley, a veteran of the Korean War, on May 23, 1953. They lived in Bozeman, finally settling in Butte, where their children were raised, and then in Helena until the time of her death.
Bobbie was a homemaker, a loving wife, a great mom, and a cheerful hostess for anyone who came to visit. She enjoyed crafting, rosemaling (Norwegian folk art painting), watercolor painting, fishing, scrapbooking, playing games, and laughing. Her seven wonderful grandchildren made her smile with pride…she always had a picture and a cute story. She and Jim have been devoted to their many pets, too. Despite Bobbie’s health issues, she maintained a positive attitude and was a model of strength and courage.
Bobbie is survived by her husband Jim; her children: Andi (Craig) Moore of Helena; Michael (Deb) Kelley of Dillon, MT; Patrick (Lynn) Kelley of Chesterfield, MI; and David (Susan) Kelley of Conroe, TX; six grandchildren: Nathanial, Amity, Erik, Shawn, Lisa, and Adam; one great grandchild, Brandon Joe; two sisters: Joy (Tony) Grainger of East Grand Forks, MN, and Anita (Jerry) Clayton of Billings, MT; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents, Rollie & Ruth Christie and one grandson, Brandon Michael Kelley.
A memorial service for Bobbie will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 5, 2014, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., Helena. A reception will follow the service at her home. May God bless the memory of Roberta Jean Kelley.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Roberta.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday September 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of Her Life
11:00 a.m.
Friday September 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Dixie & Gina says
We Loved her so much and she will be so missed! Gina and I worked for Roberta & Jim for at least five years now, cleaning their house and doing yard work. Such beautiful people, Roberta would always want us “girls” as she called us, in the middle of us cleaning their house take a break and have tea a fancy coffee drink with some sort of goodies. Once in a while Gina and I would make something special or pick something to bring over for our break. So many times while on our breaks we would lose track of time sitting there and talking and laughing about so many things. I wanted to stand up and let everyone know during the memorial this story and how wonderful she treated us girls for just being hired help, but I just couldn’t as no one would of understood any of the words I was saying as I would of cried through the whole story. But as months and years went by we all grew to love each other. Her and I had so many deep and wonderful talks and so many laughs. As we cleaned she would follow us around and share stories of her beautiful family, show us picture’s in her wonderful homemade albums and always had time to ask us how we and our family was doing. We would sit and look at all her beautiful cards she and Andy had made, the whole family was & is so talented. She wanted so badly to walk and dance, so now that’s how I think of her with still tears in my eyes and a aching heart, which is so full of love for her. God take care of this lovely woman and God Bless her Family….Remember Roberta you said you would look up my Mom and Grandma as they also liked to play cards too.