ELVERA ROBBINS

Elvera G. Robbins 1918 - 2011 Elvera Gullie (Peterson) Robbins, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, went home to Heaven to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb 27, 2011. She was 92 years old and had been in St. Anthony's Hospital in Gig Harbor since Thursday. Elvera was born to Swedish immigrants in Anaconda, Montana on March 22, 1918. She grew up there and attended public schools, graduating from Anaconda High School in 1936. Elvera spoke only Swedish until she started first grade. She grew up surrounded by many Swedish relatives and friends, and lived in a home steeped with Swedish traditions. She married her sweetheart, Robert "Bob" Robbins of Missoula, Montana, on July 22, 1939 in Philipsburg, Montana. They had an enduring and loving marriage for over 64 years until 2003 when Bob passed away. Elvera worked as a telephone operator for Mountain Bell for five years following graduation from high school. During World War II, and following brief stays in Colorado and Nebraska, she worked as a secretary in war plants in Portland, Oregon and Burbank, California. In 1946, Elvera and Bob moved to San Francisco, where she worked as a secretary for an engineering firm and also as a telephone operator for AT&T. In 1958, they moved to Walnut Creek, California where they lived for 41 years. In 1999, they moved to Tacoma, Washington to be closer to family. Elvera resided in Montana for 24 years, in California for 55 years, and in Washington for the past 11 years. Elvera enjoyed traveling, hobbies and crafts, dancing, playing Bridge and Pinochle, cooking, entertaining, and gardening. She was blessed with many close friends and a deep and abiding faith in God. Elvera was a happy and vivacious woman who befriended everyone she encountered, and her family was the focal point of her life. Elvera was very proud of her Swedish heritage. Elvera was preceded in death by her husband Robert E. "Bob" Robbins (1916-2003), her parents Axel Gunnar Peterson (1895-1958) and Sylvia K. (Johnson) Peterson (1896-1984), and a brother, Henry R. Peterson (1919-1971). Elvera is survived by her two children, son Gary R. Robbins (and wife Sloan) of Gig Harbor, Washington, and daughter Sylvia E. (Robbins) Slattery (and husband Kevin) of Raleigh, North Carolina. She is also survived by three granddaughters, Kimberly Robbins of Buhl, Idaho, Lauryn Slattery of Raleigh, and Tiffany Robbins of Gig Harbor, and by a great-granddaughter, Ruth Malberg of Buhl. In addition, Elvera is survived by two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Henry (Agnes "Sis") Peterson of Anaconda, and Mrs. George (Alice) Robbins of Oakland, California, many nieces and nephews, and many cousins in Sweden and throughout the USA. Elvera was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington. Previously, she had been a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette, California and Sunset Lutheran church in San Francisco. Elvera was very active in various church organizations in earlier years. A memorial service will be held at the Weatherly Inn in Tacoma, Washington in early April. Please contact the family or the Weatherly Inn (253-752-8550) for details. Elvera and Bob will be buried in Anaconda later this year. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Weatherly Inn for the wonderful care Elvera received at their facility over the years. Remembrances can be made in Elvera's name to St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 6730 N. 17th St., Tacoma, WA 98406, or The American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75231 ( www.heart.org ).