Virginia Mae (Roberts) O'Bleness, 83
Virginia Mae (Roberts) O’Bleness, 83, died Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at her home in Libby, with her husband and family at her side.
Virginia was born Feb. 17, 1927, in Pendleton, Ore., the first of three children of Jerome and Mae Roberts. The family moved to the Silver Valley of Northern Idaho where she grew up and attended school.
At the age of 16 she dedicated her life to Jehovah God. Shortly thereafter she began her career as a full-time minister. She married Lawrence O’Bleness on Sept. 4, 1947, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Together they served in the full-time ministry in various places in Northern Idaho and Northwest Montana for a number of years before settling in Libby, where they decided to start a family.
They raised four sons and later adopted a grown daughter who had no other family.
Virginia was a very supportive wife, a wonderful mother and a tireless servant of Jehovah. She conducted Bible studies with hundreds of individuals. She literally spent every ounce of energy she had helping others.
Her primary focus was helping people to learn the truth found in God’s Word and share the wonderful hope of everlasting life in a paradise earth. She hoped to be alive to see Christ Jesus fully establish his rulership over the earth. Now her family awaits the promised resurrection (John 5:28, 29) where she will “return in youthful vigor” to enjoy the blessings for which she spent her life enlightening others.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Lance.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence; sister, Donna Dolton of Shelton, Wash., sister-in-law, Charlotte Roberts of Kennewick, Wash.; children, Larry of Coeur d’Alene, Tom of Libby, Kevin of Anchorage, Alaska, Marvin of Monroe, Wash., and Connie Sidafoos of Puget Sound, Wash., and their families and special family member, Judy Boothman, at the family home in Libby.
She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, as well as innumerable spiritual children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, at the Memorial Center in Libby, with an opportunity to socialize immediately after the service.