Roberta (Leback) Tetz

Our beloved mother - Roberta Jo "Berta" entered into God's heavenly gates made not from hands, but from eternal love on December 9, 2017.

Berta was born to Verl C. and Gertrude T. (Wood) Leback in Astoria, Oregon on February 10, 1929. Mom attended Chinook grade school and graduated from Ilwaco High School in 1947. She grew up in Chinook working along side her parents and brother Dick Leback at the Chinook Country store. It was the hub of town and mom was always there helping ring up guests along side her mother. She then attended Washington State University and pledged Alpha Chi Omega sorority. While home on summer break Arnold Swanson recruited her to work at the Astoria Clinic. She would ride the Chessman and Tourist II ferries to and from Chinook until getting an apartment in Astoria.

Tim C. Williams courted her and they married in the Presbyterian Church in Ilwaco. They begot three children: Timothy Mark, Marilyn Jo and Thomas Richard. Tim worked in the Ilwaco Theater and owned a gas station in Ilwaco, and then became an insurance salesman. Mom joined him in the insurance business after raising their children. Together they had apartment rentals and owned a shrimp boat for a brief period in time. They enjoyed trips to Palm Springs, Hawaii, Turkey, Spain, New York, New Jersey and various insurance conventions.

After a divorce from Tim, Berta married Frank O. Glenn Jr. and they were married in Palm Springs, CA. They resided in Hammond, OR and enjoyed living on the Columbia River watching various vessels go by out their front window. Berta would accompany Frank on his boat the Tondelyo, always providing a nice picnic spread. They loved to travel and went on routine trips to London, New York, Europe and to their condo on St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. They were among the very first to take the Concorde jet to London, and Berta truly enjoyed it. They lived as close to a cosmopolitan lifestyle as one can on the Oregon Coast, always hosting fancy dinner parties and attending black tie affairs. Berta loved to get dressed up and Frank was always happy to show off his beautiful bride.

After Frank passed, Berta married Ken Tetz Sr. They were both sports enthusiasts and enjoyed college and professional games. They enjoyed yearly vacations in sunny Palm Springs and regularly attended the Chinook Lutheran church.

Berta's last vacation was with her son Tim and wife Marni to sunny Palm Springs.

Berta finished out her last years living with her daughter Marilyn. The entire family is extremely grateful for the loving care Marilyn provided. Tom came for daily visits and could always bring a sparkle of joy to his mother.

Our mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend was an icon, Katherine Hepburn-esque. Always stunning, striking, impeccably dressed. She had a calm, sweet temperament about her.

She loved staying up with the news, local politics and rooting on Blazers. She had a unique tune she always whistled, you could hear it throughout the house as she got ready, cooked or did house work. She loved hosting guests and having drinks with friends and family. She was an excellent cook and she wrote her own cookbook in 1988 - "Mom's Best." She would greet you at the door with a pantsuit, and yet a kitchen towel tucked in her pants (wear an apron would go). She always made everyone feel welcome.

She saw all her grandchildren get married and is survived by: Tim and Marni Williams, Marilyn Williams, Tom Williams; two sister-in-laws  Eileen Leback and Dorothy T. Williams. Williams; granchildren Ken Anderson, Ryan (Angie) Williams, and Laura (Hart) Green; step-grandchildren Jeff (Tomoe) Johnson, Marni Johnson and Emily (Jamison) Purry, which lead to eight great great grandchildren. Memorial contributions can go to Ilwaco Fire Dept or Friends of the Chinook School.

Memorial service and celebration of her life will be held Sat., January 13, 2018, 1:00 PM at the Chinook School Gym event center.  Following the service and time of sharing there will be a reception. 

Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.