Obituary of Roberta Milligan

Obituary Roberta Kay (Gardner) MilliganOctober 30, 1953 - November 20, 2009 Funeral Services for former Wyoming resident, Roberta Kay (Gardner) Milligan were held Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 2:00pm at the Charlie Lake Community Church with Rev. Allan Stebing officiating. Burial was held at the Woodlawn Cemetery. Roberta passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2009 at 5:00am at the Fort St. John Hospital in Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada with her family at her side. Memorial contributions in Roberta's memory may be made to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation or the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Hamre's Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family at 8904 116 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6A3 Roberta was born on October 30, 1953 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the daughter of Richard and Naomi (Mooney) Gardner. She was the third child in the family of eight children. In 1955 her family moved to a ranch at Interior, South Dakota. When Roberta was seven her family bought a farm and ranch at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. When Roberta was growing up she worked side by side with her family accomplishing any task asked of her; irrigating, caring for livestock, and helping her Dad break horses. One of her biggest accomplishments as a teen-age girl was operating a Hesston swather and custom swathing hay for neighbors. Roberta was a member of the Fort Laramie Riding Club and won the Senior Horseman belt buck participating in various events including barrel racing which was her favorite. She was a very accomplished horsewoman and learned how to work hard at a young age. Roberta was just a "country girl" inside and out. Roberta attended grades 1-10 at Fort Laramie and graduated from Lingle-Fort Laramie High School in 1972. Upon graduating from high school she moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to attend cosmetology school at the Colorado Springs International Beauty Academy. After receiving her licensing and certification she returned to Wyoming and married her childhood sweetheart, Robert "Bob" Milligan on December 22, 1973 in Fort Laramie. The couple moved to Fort Lupton, Colorado with Bob's job for a short period of time then moved to Douglas, Wyoming where their two sons, Lane and Justin were born. Roberta was employed as a beautician at the Curly Q in Douglas, Wyoming. Bob then took a job with Belle Fourche Pipe Line in Lance Creek, Wyoming. To the joy of the women living near and around Lance Creek, Roberta opened up her own beauty shop in her home allowing her to be a stay at home mom. In July 1979 the couple sold their property in Lance Creek and moved to Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada to help her parents run the Lake View Store in Charlie Lake. When the family business was sold, Roberta took a job as Assistant Manager at Sports Traders. Her customers could always count on receiving excellent customer service and would be greeted with Roberta' beautiful smile. For the last few years Roberta was employed as bookkeeper and payroll manager in the family business, Two Rivers Contacting. Roberta loved her sons, Lane and Justin, her daughters-in-law Sharon and Angie and her 7 grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with her family hunting, fishing, camping, and the great outdoors. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and reading. This spring she adopted an orphan calf she called Molly that gave her much joy. Roberta will be remembered for how much she cared for her family. She always put others need before her own. Auntie Roberta was a favorite with her many nieces and nephews. Roberta is survived by the "love of her life" Robert Milligan of Baldonnel, BC, her son Lane and wife Sharon, grandchildren Ashley and Walker of Fort St. John, BC, her son Justin and wife Angie and grandchildren Colton, Morgan, Harley, Emily and Valerie of Goodlow, BC. Other survivors include her mother, Naomi Gardner of Fort St. John, BC, brother Ken (Marilyn) Gardner of Kelowna, BC, sister Terry Kemper of Navarre, FL, her sister Billie (Roy) Allen of Torrington, WY, sister Jill (Mark) Zetts of Falls Church, Virginia, brother Ed (Michelle) Gardner of Fort St. John, BC, brother Casey (Teena) Gardner of Montney, BC and brother Bryan (Liane) Gardner of Fort St. John, BC. She is also survived by her father-in-law, Robert Milligan of Fort Laramie, WY, brother-in-law Rudy (Debbie) Milligan of Carlsbad, New Mexico, sister-in-law Tammy (Larry) Gorsuch of Souix Falls, SD, sister-in-law Kim Davis of Grand Junction, CO and brother-in-law Terry Davis of Thornton, CO, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Roberta was preceded in death by her father, Richard Gardner in April, 2009 and her Mother-in-law Patty Milligan of Fort Laramie this past week. Services