Isaac Bliss Roberts

Isaac Bliss Roberts, Jr., 94, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away Monday, Nov. 22, 2005 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m., Friday, Nov. 25 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Grape Drive Chapel, with President Les Michie presiding. Interment will follow at Valley View Memorial Park in Soap Lake. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.

Isaac was born January 12, 1911 in Taber, Alberta, Canada, son of the late Isaac and Elizabeth (Bullock) Roberts, Sr. He was raised on the family farm near Taber and attended schools in Taber, graduating from Taber High School in 1929. He then attended Brigham Young University for a year. He served a two-year mission for the church, the first of three missions he would serve, in the Pacific Northwest area of the States. He returned to Canada and enrolled at Alberta College of Agriculture in Raymond where in his fourth year became the college's basketball coach.

Following his education, he purchased a farm in Taber and also at Diamond City, Alberta, farming both for over two decades. He was married to Whilhelminea Carmichael on July 28, 1948 at the Cardston, Alberta, Canada L.D.S. Temple.

They began adopting children shortly after their marriage and while in Canada, adopted six children. In 1956 they moved to Moses Lake after selling their farms in Canada. He operated a farm on the Potato Hill Road for a while and later purchased a farm in Block 71 near Ephrata. He later purchased a farm east of Moses Lake.

They adopted two more children after moving to Moses Lake. After all of their children graduated from high school he sold his farm and retired from farming.

He then worked at the Sugar Beet Factory and the area potato processing companies, retiring completely in 1975.

Since then they had enjoyed traveling for many years. He enjoyed spending time gardening.

He was a lifelong member of the L.D.S. Church and was very active with the Moses Lake Fifth Ward.

He is survived by his loving wife of more than 57 years, Wilma Roberts, Moses Lake; seven children, Roslyn, Bryce, Donna, Lyndsy, Tony, LeAnna and Terry; two sisters, Lillian and Phyllis; 21 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

A son, Kim; two sisters, Agnes and Lucy; one brother, Liddel; and one grandson, Hans, preceded him in death.