She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Obee and her husband Dee Obee, son Michael Valentine, daughter-in-law Leslie Valentine, son David Valentine, son-in-law Dan Acosta, daughter-in-law Joann Valentine, her brother Russell Banna of Portland Oregon, her sister Ruth Moe of Minot North Dakota, her brother-in-law Grant Valentine of Tigard Oregon, sister-in-law Ione Banna of Kalispell Montana. She had eight grand children, and eight great-grand children, numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, after 49 ½ years of marriage, her sister Lila Roggenbuck, brothers Monte and Dickey Banna, her children Ralph Jr. Valentine, Stephen Valentine, Pamela Valentine Acosta.
Miriam grew up on a farm in Karnak, North Dakota, the oldest of six siblings. Her mother died when she was twelve years of age. Because of this tragic circumstance, she helped raise the younger children during the hardship of the depression era.
She attended Minot State Teachers College after graduation from Minot High School in 1943.
She was involved in the 4-H community events during her school years, and was selected Dairy Princess representing her school.
She moved to Everett, WA in 1944, where she met and married Ralph S. Valentine on December 11th, 1944, while he was on leave from the Army-Merchant Marines during WWII.
Mother worked for many years as a telephone operator at West Coast Telephone Co. in Everett, retiring 1968 with the upcoming birth of her last child of six children.
Even with her busy schedule of raising six children, she was able to sew clothing for the children to wear, can fruits and vegetables from the family garden each year and loved to bake rolls, cookies and pastries. She was famous in the local community for her chocolate chip cookies, giving many away as gifts. She also enjoyed writing poetry, singing and puzzle books.
Miriam loved to travel around the U.S. with her family, camping and sightseeing along the way. She became a world traveler, going on trips to Europe, Australia, Fiji, Hawaiian islands, and Canada.
Her faith, family and friends were the most important things that she cherished. She enjoyed her Christian friends in carrying out God’s service. She became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, on March 1st 1953, when she was baptized. She was faithfully looking forward to the future, when Jehovah God would restore the Earth to a paradise condition. The promise of the resurrection, the reuniting of loved ones, and the return of restored health as is promised in the scriptures. Rev:21 3,4.
Memorial services will be held at 7:00 PM, August 26, 2018 at the Everett Central Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses located at 1730 Madison Street, Everett WA. Refreshments following the service.
The family requests no flowers to be sent.
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