Alma Isabelle Robertson

Oscar couldn't bear another birthday without his beautiful bride, Alma. Alma Isabelle (Newell) Robertson, 90, went to join her husband on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013.

No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held next summer at the Robertson Ranch.

She was born on June 10, 1923, in the Bitterroot, to John and Nellie Newell. She met her sweetheart during her junior year and was married shortly after on Aug. 4, 1941.

She had two daughters and was left to tend the house and family while her husband went off to Germany during World War II. After his return, she followed him to Missoula, Havre, Wolf Point and finally Glasgow as he built houses for Shulund Construction. Two sons came along during this time.

She worked at various jobs with Shulund Construction, Glasgow Ready Mix, JC Penney and Woolworths. She always felt education was important and desired to get her high school diploma. Despite the obstacles, she finally attained her goal by getting her GED at the age of 48.

In 1976, her son, Don, took her on a tour of the University of Montana and convinced her she should go to college. Before they left the campus that day, Don paid her entrance fee and she was signed up to attend classes. During one of her classes, she volunteered at a group home. She was so moved by the experience, she convinced her husband they should apply to be group home parents for the developmentally disabled. Getting the job, she continued her classes to become a social worker while running the group home.

She eventually gave up the job to give her full attention to finishing her college classes. At the age of 59, she graduated from the University of Montana. Following her graduation she worked as a child protective social worker for Ravalli County until her retirement in 1989.

Not one to be retired, she became an advocate for senior citizens in nursing homes, foster care and personal care homes. In the mid 90's, she and Oscar followed their son to Lewistown to live until Oscar's death in 2007. She then moved to Missoula to be closer to her daughter, Elaine.

She was always one to make the best of whatever situation she faced. She never missed the opportunity to teach her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren or anyone else she came in contact with.

Her trips to Alaska were highlights in her life. She always welcomed a full house and nobody ever went home hungry. She never let the girls in the family forget that they could do anything the boys could do.

She loved hunting, fishing, bird watching, hunting for wildflowers to identify, huckleberry picking, evening drives to spot wildlife, crocheting, quilting, painting, gardening and canning. She could fry up a mean batch of brook trout at the family campouts she loved to have. There isn't a single family member who will forget waking up to the smell of her famous cinnamon rolls.

She was preceded in death by her husband Oscar; one son, Donald Robertson; one granddaughter, Tessa Robertson; one grandson, Jacob Robertson Etchart; one brother, Max Newell in WW II; and two sisters, Sinnette Waldron and Lorna Young.

She said the saying, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" helped her survive through the years. She did more than survive, she left a wonderful legacy.

Survivors include one sister, Irma Roesbury, of Cordova, Alaska; two daughters, Elaine Rose and her husband, Mike, of Frenchtown, Mont., and Gloria Robertson of Glasgow; one son, Dick Robertson and his wife, Vikki, of Forestgrove, Mont.; 10 grandchildren, Darlene Troutwine and her husband, Kevin, of Greenough, Bonnie Kennick and her husband, Tony, of Papillion, Neb., Debbie Haberlock and her husband, Jeremy, of Frenchtown, Brenda Peyton and her husband, David, of Clinton, Marnie Flatow of San Francisco, Heidi Gault and her husband, Brien, of Glasgow, Brent Flatow of Glasgow, Yote Robertson of Lewistown, Yana Robertson of Missoula, and Yavon Robertson of Lewistown; 22 great-grandchildren, Andy Troutwine, Kayla Tanner, Adam Troutwine, Avery Troutwine, Nikki Kennick, Cassie Kennick, Lexie Kennick, Mandy Kennick, Keith Carman and his wife, Lindsey, Logan Carman, Jaden Haberlock, Morgan Hartman, Madison Hartman, Ciana Haberlock, Makenna Hartman, Caitlynn Yorks, Jonathan Salt, Kyra Flatow, Autumn Gault, Yarak Sullivan, Kennidi Wanner, Kale Wanner; and two great-great grandchildren, Tayden Spence and Torey Spence.