Roberta 'Robbi' Jeanne Kinniburgh, 73

Roberta “Robbi” Jeanne Kinniburgh, 73, passed away Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, at Edgewood Vista in Evergreen, with her family by her side, and after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease.

 Robbi was born March 26, 1939, in Kalispell to Frank and Margaret Daley, the last of three siblings.  

She spent her early childhood growing up in Somers. Her family moved to Chula Vista, Calif., when Robbi attended elementary school for two years until they returned to Kalispell in 1946. Robbi finished the remainder of her education in Kalispell, graduating from Flathead County High School in 1957.

In 1957, Robbie married Stanley Brunner and moved to Olympia, Wash., where she worked for the state of Washington for two years before returning to Chula Vista, and adopted her son Randy in 1964. After the death of her husband in 1965, Robbi returned to Kalispell with her son to be near her family.

It was in Kalispell that she met her husband Robert Kinniburgh, and the two were married on July 14, 1967, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They made their home in Evergreen and lived there happily for 44 years. In addition to Randy, she was blessed with a stepdaughter, Laurie, and two more children, Ryan and Kelli, and many happy memories.

Robbi was first and foremost a homemaker and wonderful mother who devoted her life to her family. She loved to cook for them and liked to joke that she was a “short order cook” because she would cook anything at anytime and always had the ingredients on hand to do so. She was involved in all of her children's activities, from sports to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and everything in between. She was homeroom mother for all of her children's classrooms.

She also had a twinkle in her eye and a wonderful sense of humor. She took pranks well, but she always got her revenge. Robbi had the “gift of gab” and could talk to anybody and make them feel welcome. All her children's friends felt comfortable at her house which was why it seemed to be the place where all the neighborhood kids would congregate. Even after her children had moved out, their friends would still stop by to chat. She also had a soft spot for strays, so the family was never without a pet.

Robbi loved to bowl and bowled on a league for several years. She was also a 20-year active member of the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department Women's Auxiliary. She also enjoyed camping with family and friends and spent many memorable summers with them at her and Rob's place on Lake Blaine. She took great pleasure in being the “team mother” for all her children's teammates. She and Rob loved hauling them all to games in their RV throughout the Northwest and Canada.

After her husband retired in 2000, the couple joined the Good Sam Club and enjoyed numerous camping trips and excursions around Montana. They also spent a few winters as “snow birds,” traveling to Arizona and New Mexico in their RV to enjoy the sun and warm weather.

Robbi was preceded in death by her first husband, her parents, one brother, and an infant daughter.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Robert Kinniburgh, of Kalispell; one stepdaughter, Laurie Graber, and husband, Robert, of Helena, with their two children, Jarrett and wife Whitney, and Branson, all of Helena; two sons, Randy Brunner of Kalispell, and Ryan Kinniburgh of Portland; one daughter, Kelli Johnson, and husband, Wyatt, of Bigfork, and their two children, Taylor and Tristan; one brother, Jerry Daley, and wife, Cobi, of Cary, N.C.; with numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held for Robbi at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel, with burial to follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Friends and family are invited to a reception at the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department after the burial.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Robbi's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Robbi's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.