Roberta “Bobbie” Marie (Oberg) Bockovich

 

Roberta “Bobbie” Marie (Oberg) Bockovich passed away at North Shore Living in Grand Marais on Sunday, August 15.

Bobbie was born to Roy and Hazel (Evans) Oberg on June 29, 1936, at Two Harbors Hospital.

Bobbie grew up at Hollow Rock and Grand Portage Bay. She enjoyed playing on the lakeshore, at the base of Hollow Rock Creek and on and around Hollow Rock. She fondly remembered taking a boat through the opening of Hollow Rock.

She spent many happy hours aboard various boats piloted by her dad, Captain Roy Oberg and at Isle Royale.

Bobbie attended school through 8th grade at the Old Log School in Grand Portage. She started high school at Grand Marais High School. She helped move the library to the “new” school at the current location, now Cook County High School. She graduated CCHS in 1954.

While in high school, Bobbie worked at Ryden’s Border Store and DuNord Café. She became friends with Joan Bockovich. Visiting Joan at the family farm, Bobbie met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Bockovich. They were married at the First Baptist Church in Grand Marais on June 11, 1955. It was a double wedding with her sister, Patricia and John Bangsund.

 

Bobbie and Dick went on a honeymoon to Yellowstone and then resided in Grand Marais until Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956. After he completed basic training and was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, Bobbie made the drive to Colorado Springs all by herself—in a snowstorm!

Their daughter Rhonda was born at Fort Carson. They returned to Grand Marais and lived in a tiny trailer, and then a little house and then at what was called the “upper house” at the family farm. Their second daughter, Rhodelle, was born in 1962.

Bobbie and Dick purchased land on County Road 7 and built their own home.

While raising her daughters, Bobbie worked as a waitress at El Ray Café and as a secretary for the U.S Forest Service.

Seven years later, the family grew with the births of sons, Randy in 1970 and Ryan in 1971.

Bobbie continued to work while raising her family. She worked as a cleaning lady for a summer resident and for Dave’s Beauty Shop. She drove the Arrowhead Transit bus for about 15 years, making trips up the Gunflint Trail, east and West End and to Duluth. She very much enjoyed her passengers— “her people.”

Bobbie also worked as church secretary for 20 years at First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ, another job at which she enjoyed taking care of “her people.”

After Bobbie and Dick retired, they started wintering in Apache Junction, Arizona. They also spent time each year at Bobbie’s Aunt Annie’s home in Kansas and with Rhodelle and family in Missouri.

Bobbie always enjoyed traveling. She was ready for a road trip at any moment. She traveled with family to all but four U.S. states, through Canada, and to Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. She loved visiting with friends and relatives along the way.

She loved being outdoors (when the bugs weren’t bad and it wasn’t too cold) and hiked many local trails, including Magnetic Rock, Eagle Mountain, Oberg Mountain and others. She also enjoyed ATVing and was proud to be part of the World’s Longest ATV Parade in Silver Bay in 2009.

Bobbie loved spending time with family, especially if she didn’t have to cook. She loved family gatherings with nieces and nephews. She never wanted to head to Arizona until after the big family Christmas gathering. She enjoyed playing games of all kinds and loved birthday card parties with her sisters-in-law.

She especially enjoyed playing Trivia at the American Legion/Grandma Ray’s with family on the “Now and Then” team.

Bobbie spent the last months of her life at North Shore Living, where she and her family were lovingly cared for by the nurses and staff there.

Bobbie is preceded by her parents; her sisters, Patricia and Dora “Dottie” and half-brother, Bradley.

She is survived by her best friend and husband, Richard Bockovich; her children, Rhonda and Charles Silence of Grand Marais, Rhodelle and J.R. Allman of Stark City, MO, Randy Bockovich of Grand Marais, Ryan and Jeni Bockovich of Duluth; grandchildren Ben and Michele Silence and Gideon and Sara Silence, Korey Bockovich, Tristen Bockovich, all of Grand Marais, Jacob Allman of Stark City, Danielle and Rachel Bockovich of Duluth; great-children RaeAnne, Genevieve, Carter, AnnaBelle and Eloise; sisters Peg Stroud and Edie Taapa, Andrea Jackopich; brothers Lee and Stuart; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service and gathering will be held at Bloomquist Mountain at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 21. A light supper will be served. Please bring umbrellas in case of rain and masks in case we need to be indoors.