Baker City, Oregon
Darlene Emma Robbins, 71 died Monday, January 26, 2004 in Baker City, Oregon after a lengthy illness.
Memorial services will be held Monday, February 2, 2004 at 11 a.m. in the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street with Rev. Ron Kratzer officiating. Inurnment will follow at Baker Cemetery at a later date.
Mrs. Robbins was born September 13, 1932, in Bentonville Arkansas to Austin and Grace Robbins. In 1936, she moved from Nebraska to Ontario, Oregon at the age of four. She graduated from Ontario High School in 1950. She met her future husband while attending the Methodist Church Camp at Wallowa Lake. She married Llewellyn Leroy Robbins on August 26, 1951 in Nyssa, Oregon. They had many things in common including the same last name, though not related. They moved to Corvallis, Oregon where Llewellyn attended Oregon State University majoring in Vocational Agriculture. Darlene worked as telephone operator in Ontario and Corvallis.
In 1954, they moved to Heppner, Oregon where Llewellyn accepted his first teaching position. In 1961, they moved to Baker City, where they purchased a farm on Pocahontas Road and Llewellyn continued to teach at the Baker High School. Darlene worked for and became the manager of Montgomery Wards until 1985 when they purchased the franchise. When Montgomery Wards closed all the franchise businesses, they opened Robbins Arrow and continued in the retail business until 1994 when they both officially retired.
After retirement, they went to the Ukraine as lay missionaries in 1998 with a group from the Church of the Nazarene to help restore an educational unit. They loved to travel and took many trips to various parts of the United States.
They went on several cruises, one to the Panama Canal in 2001 which was 50th wedding anniversary gift. They visited other islands along the way. Other interests included embroidery, cake decorating, playing pinochle with friends, camping, fishing, hunting, watching the birds feed out their front window, and supporting her grandchildren by attending various activities.
Survivors include her husband, Llewellyn Robbins; daughters and sons-in-law Ree Ella and Carsten von Borstel from Grass Valley, Oregon and De Ette and Vern Stofleth from Lakeview, Oregon; son and daughter-in-law Denzil and Kathy Robbins from Baker City; son, Perry Robbins and Connie Whitney from Burns, Oregon; grandchildren Bernadette, Seth and Lindsay, Noah von Borstel; Kristopher and Maranda, Brandon, Lauren, Kassie Robbins; Kelsey, Katie Stofleth; Brittany, Miranda, Bradley Robbins; great-grandchildren Breck von Borstel and Alivia Robbins; sister Ione Wells from Nampa, Idaho; brother and sister-in-law Brock and Ruth Robbins from Cambridge, Idaho; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from Nyssa, Oregon, Norvelle and Betty Robbins and Merildean and Winona Robbins; special uncle Delbert Viken; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Austin and Grace Robbins; father and mother-in-law, Leicester “Les”and Inga Robbins; and brother-in-law, Elbert Wells.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice, Baker City Nazarene Church Work and Witness Program, or a charity of choice. This may be done through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon, January, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor