Roberta Joyce (Motichka) Elgin, 81
Roberta Joyce (Motichka) Elgin, 81, passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ surrounded by her family on July 30, 2019, from natural causes related to dementia.
Roberta was born on Jan. 28, 1938, to Joseph Motichka and Mary (Feirstein) Motichka, the youngest of seven children. She was born near the family homestead that is located close to what is now Glacier Park International Airport. She was delivered at the country doctor’s home nearby. As a child she was raised tending to the animals, gardening and working on the farm. This childhood gave her a strong work ethic, values and morals, and a love for animals and nature of all kinds.
Through eighth grade, she attended a small country school with her siblings. One of many fond memories Roberta had was traveling occasionally to and from school with her dad by horse. From there she attended Flathead County High School where she made many new friends, excelled in academics, loved home economics, and was a baton twirler on the drill team. While at Flathead, Roberta met and later married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Donald Elgin.
After graduation, Donald and Roberta were married on June 30, 1956, the beginning of a lifelong marriage and family. They had three boys: Dan, Dave and Donnie. Family activities included camping, fishing, hunting, riding motorcycles, getting wood, boating, playing sports, sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, and enjoying the outdoors. “Mom was right along with us just as one of the boys.” While raising the family, Roberta took on part-time work such as cutting tree boughs for wreath making, picking and selling huckleberries, and working at her uncle’s meat processing plant. Later, she sold Avon before taking permanent work at Eddy’s Bakery where she worked for 26 years.
Roberta’s greatest pleasures were spending time traveling and camping with family and friends such as Jim and Loraine Peterson, Milt and Bernice Just and many others.
Upon retirement, a dream came true when the two took a six-week adventure driving to Alaska where they spent time with Donnie’s family. There, they enjoyed catching halibut and salmon, gold panning, and sight-seeing in Donnie’s plane. They also traveled to Las Vegas for NASCAR and Jackpot, Nevada. Roberta showed much love to her family members by showering them with many gifts especially on birthdays and Christmas. She always had the perfect Christmas tree.
Many of her favorite things were teaching her pets new tricks such as training her cat to roll over for treats. She loved feeding animals and birds, growing flowers, taking walks with the grandchildren, and all things in nature.
After Don’s passing, Roberta spent time with her friends, enjoyed luncheons and played cards. She also kept the property looking beautiful and enjoyed tending to the flower beds. Her home was the hub for family functions and dinners and she loved spending time with her family.
Roberta was preceded in death by her parents’ siblings, Andrew, Betty, Jim, Katy, Dick and Barb; her husband, Don; and many other family members.
She is survived by her three sons, Dan; Dave (Neila) and children Amanda, Betsy, Katherine, Russell and Jacquie; and Donnie (Lori) and children Caitlyn, Sarah and Lindsey; 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A funeral and graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, at Stillwater Lutheran Church in Kalispell, under the direction of Pastor Craig Scavo and Pastor Justin Nelson (grandson); a luncheon will follow.
The family of Roberta thanks all those who helped with her care.
In lieu of gifts, please make a donation to www.usagainstalzheimers.org or a donation of your choice.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.