Roberta Jean Huget

Feb 1, 1924 – July 15, 2019

Roberta Jean Huget passed away in her sleep at home in West Seattle.

She was proceeded in death by her husband William L Huget, and her siblings: Richard, Betty Lee, Alice, John and Robert (twin). She is survived by sons Jeff (Kathleen), Rick (Barbara) and Buzz (Lisa), 8 grandchildren Eesa, Erica, Abigail, Rebecca, Tanner, Madelyn, Tucker, Lydia and 21 great grandchildren, Ricky, Evan, Will, Seth  (Abigail); Noah, Silas, Gracie (Rebecca); Emmalee, Clara, Audrey, Lizabeth, Sadie, Wesley (Madelyn); Scarlett, Lila, Cash (Lydia); Grace, Carter (Eesa); Brody, Beckett (Erika); Sailor (Tanner and 1 great-great-grandchild Evelyn (Evan).

She was born and raised in Gresham, OR; raised her family in Arbor Heights, West Seattle; spent her later years with Bill in Fairwood neighborhood of Renton and her final years were spent back in West Seattle in the Cottage she shared with Dee Oliver.

Roberta was born into the poor but loving family of Homer & Mabel Andrew in Gresham OR. Her sibliings were Richard, Betty Lee, Alice, John and Robert (her twin). They lost a sister Evelynn at a very young age. Her first 10 years saw the end of the roaring 20’s, the economic crash of 1929 and the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Yet in those circumstances, grew her deep love of family gatherings and celebrations Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and more. Roberta was always style conscious. She became an excellent seamstress, learning to make all of her clothes. She graduated from Gresham High School (class of ‘42) six months after Pearl Harbor. She went on to Linfield College where she met Bill Huget.  They were married in 1946 following Bill’s discharge from his service on the USS Casablanca. One memory of their courtship was attending a Sunday morning Service of the German Baptist Church the Huget’s were members of. The Service was conducted in German and accepted attire was black (men and women). Roberta arrived in her kelly-green outfit complete with matching hat. That morning many necks were craned and tongues set a waging.

Following their marriage in Portland (May 12, 1946) Bill & Roberta moved to Seattle, started a family and by 1950 moved to their own home in Arbor Heights on the corner of 35th & 106th. It’s here that deep friendships were formed. It was a true baby boomer community. They joined the Blenders Dance Club. Every six weeks the club would decorate the Arbor Heights Volunteer Fire Department and turn it into a themed dining and dancing hall. In the late 50’s the family joined the Evergreen Tennis Club up the hill from 5-Corners in Burien. In 1962 helped form and joined the Arbor Heights Swim Club. By the mid-60’s interest moved from tennis to golf. The Huget’s then joined Glen Acers Golf Club (Roberta was Club Champion).

In 1974, they sold the house in Arbor Heights and moved to Renton into a townhouse in Fairwood. A new set of friendships were formed. The result was years of Association gatherings, celebrations and BBQ’s. At this time they joined Meridian Valley Golf Club. Between Fairwood and Meridian Valley many great friendships were formed. Bridge club was one the staples. Yet, they still continued activities and gatherings with their ‘Blender’ friends. Roberta was usually at the center of the planning of these gatherings and celebrations. It was in the 2000’s that Roberta took on the role of caregiver to Bill as his health began to decline. She was able to join a Renton Bowling League, were she consistently scored 150-200 with her pink bowling ball.

In 2014 Roberta sold her Fairwood home and moved back to West Seattle and in with Buzz & Lisa. This was in anticipation of the building of a backyard cottage which Roberta shared with Dee Oliver (Lisa’s mother) moved in. It was here that she was able as her health declined to live in comfort and be surrounded by family and able to participate in holiday celebrations and gatherings. Roberta passed away in her sleep on the morning of July 15, 2019 in her Cottage.

Snapshot Memories

Roberta & clothes

Roberta sewed her own clothes.  A skill she learned in childhood during those lean and meager years of the Great Depression. She always had an eye for style and therefore if she wanted something, she had make it herself. In both her Arbor Heights and Fairwood houses. She had her sewing room with several machines and 100’s of fabrics. In the 1950’s and 1960’s she made her 3 boys, among other things, matching cowboy outfits, baseball uniforms and Blazer jackets.

 She also loved shoes. The grandkids loved to go into Grandma’s closet and play among other things dress up with her dozens of bling-bling shoes.

She always wanted to write a biographical novel about growing up in Gresham. She never got going on it, however she knew she wanted it to begin it with everyone gathered for dinner and by looking under the dining room table and begin telling each family members story by observing each pair of shoes.

Roberta & sports

She was also a huge sports fan. She loved rooting for her teams, Chief Sealth Seahawks, UW Huskies, Seattle Mariners (original season tickets), Seattle Seahawks (original season tickets) and any baseball, basketball and football team her sons played on. this may have stemmed from the fact that her father Homer and his twin brother Howard played in an amateur Baseball circuit in eastern Washington and Oregon.

She was excellent at tennis, golf and bowling. The Huget family were members of:  Evergreen Tennis Club (1950’s & 60’s); Arbor Heights Swim Club (1962 #16), Glen Acres Golf Club (1960’s &70’s). She was Glen Acres Women’s Club Champion 1970 – 1974. Meridian Valley Golf Club (1970’s, 80’s, 90’s); Renton Bowling League (1990’s, 2000’s) (taking up the sport again in her late 70’s thru her 80’s).

She had her one and only Hole-in-One on August 13, 1976 at Lake Chelan Golf Course.

Roberta & cooking

She loved cooking for family & friends.  Growing up during the Depression, canning fruits & vegetables and learning how to make the most out of limited supplies shaped her approach to cooking. The table setting was as important to her as the meal itself. Her grandchildren remember her fresh baked cinnamon rolls and pies. In the 1960’s her boys remember her for the Sunday roast beef dinners with fresh baked cake or pie for dessert. Back then, with her boys in Jr. High and High School, she packed them lunch every day for each of them 3 sandwiches (2 meat, 1 pb&j) and a homemade desert. That’s 45 sandwiches per week.  This along with making them breakfast every morning of oatmeal and 3 slices of toast each. The Fauntleroy Bakery (now Original Bakery) loved the Huget’s weekly standing bread order.

Roberta & things she loved (beyond her family & friends)

Loved spending time at their Wapato Point time-share on Lake Chelan

She loved the organ that Bill bought for her in the 1960’s which she played into the 2000’s.

She loved playing Bridge.

She loved her dogs; Cookie (50’s,60’s); Shultzie (60’s, 70’s); Lincoln (2014)

She loved family celebrations, decorating for holidays, baking cinnamon rolls and pies.

She loved putting on plays, musicals and dances with the Blenders Dance Club in Arbor Heights (1950’s, 60’s, 70’s). Or the Grand Opening of the Arbor Heights Swim Club in 1962. Or the numerous Women’s Club day at Glen Acres Golf Club (1960’s &70’s); Meridian Valley Golf Club (1980’s & 90’s).

Memorial Service on Sat. Aug. 24 11am at Trinity West Seattle, 7551 35th Ave SW 98124.

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