Helen Roberts

HELEN J. ROBERTS, 82, of Omak, WA passed away on the 21st of November 2022 after a long illness. Born on the 1st of July 1940, to the parents of Virgil and Jane Profit in Tonasket, WA, she was raised in Okanogan and attended Okanogan schools, growing up in the Episcopal Church. After high school, while working at the Bull Dog Restaurant in Okanogan, she met and married Johnny Roberts, the love of her life. They went on to have three children: John Roberts (Ellen) Omak, WA; Peggy Wells, Columbia Falls, MT; and Pernell Roberts, Columbia Falls, MT. Helen worked various jobs in the Okanogan Valley. She packed apples in the early years, while attending to children, sheep, cows, and horses at home. Farming was a way of life; bookkeeping was her passion. She worked alongside her mother, the County Clerk Jane E. Profit Walker. Upon her mother’s death, she ran for the Okanogan County Clerk position. After her political endeavors she began bookkeeping for her family business’s including the Rainier Beer Distributing, and the Western Farmers Assoc. Feed Store. She also worked for the Mansfield, Morrisey and Thomas Lawyers office. Her adventures continued when the family moved to Alaska in November of 1977. She continued her bookkeeping abilities for the Kenai Pipe Yard (which repaired the Alaskan Pipeline) in Kenai, Nerlands Stores in Fairbanks, and the Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, before retiring from the Municipalities of Anchorage (which took care of the Villages in the North Slope of Alaska). During this time, John and Helen also purchased a Commercial Salmon Fishing Operation in Clam Gulch. For 18 years they worked at fishing the Kenai Peninsula with family and friends visiting them from time to time. It wasn’t until many years later that she completed her dream of attending and graduating college with a degree in Data Processing. She did this all while maintaining a family, having a full-time job, and attending night school at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. Throughout her life Helen found joy in playing softball, gardening, growing her beautiful flowers, quilting, and antiquing. After retirement, John and Helen headed south for warmer weather spending time in Montana, then on to Yuma, AZ. In later years, they decided to return home to Omak. Helen loved her family dearly; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She will be truly missed and never forgotten. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, John Roberts, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Buzz and Jean Berney as well as Sonny and Betty Wilson for their love and support. We would also like to give our heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Mid Valley Hospital for their excellent care to our family during this time. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Helen Roberts

July 1, 1940 - November 21, 2022