Virginia Mae O'Bleness
Virginia Mae O’Bleness died Dec. 20,
2010 at her home in Libby with her husband and family at her
side.
Virginia was born Feb. 17, 1927 in
Pendleton Ore., the first of three children of Jerome and Mae
Roberts. The family moved to the Silver Valley of north Idaho where
she grew up and attended school.
At age 16 she dedicated her life to
doing the will of Jehovah God. Shortly thereafter she began her
career as a full-time minister.
She married Lawrence O’Bleness on Sept.
4, 1947 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Together they served in the
full-time ministry in various places in north Idaho and northwest
Montana for a number of years before settling in Libby where they
decided to start a family.
They raised four sons and later adopted
a grown daughter who had no other family. Virginia was a very
supportive wife and a wonderful mother and tireless servant of
Jehovah. She conducted Bible studies with hundreds of individuals.
She spent every ounce of energy she had helping others.
Her primary focus was helping people to
learn the truth found in God’s word and share the wonderful hope of
everlasting life in a paradise earth. She hoped to be alive to see
Christ Jesus fully establish his rulership over the earth. Now her
family awaits the promised resurrection (John 5:28,29) where she
will return to us in youthful vigor to enjoy the blessings to which
she spent her life enlightening others.
Virginia was preceded in death by her
parents, and her brother, Lance.
She is survived by her husband,
Lawrence; sister, Donna Dolton of Shelton, Wash.; sister-in-law,
Charlotte Roberts of Kennewick, Wash.; children, Larry of Coeur
d’Alene, Tom of Libby, Kevin of Anchorage, Alaska, Marvin O’Bleness
of Seattle and Connie Sidafoos of Puget Sound, Wash., and their
families; 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, two
great-great-grandchildren; special family member, Judy Boothman, at
the family home in Libby; and numerous spiritual children.
A memorial service will be held at 2
p.m. on Jan. 1 at the Memorial Center with an opportunity to
socialize immediately after the service.
— — —
(Information provided by
survivors).