Robert Chester Braaten

Robert was born October 25, 1927 to Almer Clifford Braaten and Alvilde Harriet Beck in Arlington, Washington. He was the fifth of seven children. Robert graduated from Everett High School class of 1945 1/2 and was drafted into the Army October 13, 1950. He was promoted to the Rank of Sergeant on December 10, 1951. Robert was injured July 4, 1952 receiving the Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals. He was honorably discharged November 21, 1952.

May 13, 1955 he married the love of his life Barbara Lou Page. Bob and Barb had four children, Debra Jo Braaten, Robert Michael Braaten (Vicki), John Alan Braaten (Chandra) and Lori Jean Christopherson (Lane). Grand children Jacob (Emily) , Mitchell (Amanda), Sean (Sarah) Braaten, Shantel (Chris)Wilson, Rachel (Jordan) Ferkingstad, Brent, Jason (Maria) and Kyle (Nicky) Christopherson. Great grand children Hannah, Soren and Henrik, Oskar and Ruby, Mason and Madox, Conner and Ryker, Thia and Amelia.

Bob worked in the Weyerhaeuser Planer Mill for 20 years and retired from the US Postal Service in 1990 after 26 years of employment as a letter carrier.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, sisters Arline (Dan) Doris (Henry) Opal (Stan), and his brother Clifford (Judy). He is survived by his sister Gladys and brother Larry (Esther).

His military service during the Korean Conflict brought out the character that would define the man he was to become. During the attack on "Old Baldy", one of the most contentious battles of the war, he was injured tending and protecting wounded soldiers while serving as a medical corpsman. For his actions he was awarded one of the nation's highest military honors, the Silver Star, presented for gallantry in action and spirited devotion to his comrades, along with the Purple Heart for the wounds he received.

Salvation in Jesus Christ came to him in the trenches of Korea, "Lord if you get me out of here I will serve you". That he did.

Dad was full of talent, carving, whittling, and carpentry. He designed and built an addition to his home along with miscellaneous furniture pieces. After dad retired he took up woodworking, making lacy cutouts with his jigsaw that would turn into a Christmas sleigh or any of a number of beautiful pieces. He also had a knack for being able to fix almost anything. He provided for his family through hard work as well as raising crops in his large garden.

He loved to sing and was a member of the church choir. He and Barbara also sang many duets together. The Braaten family sang at every get together, with his sister Gladys playing the piano and all joining in.

He played basketball, was a member of a bowling team for a number of years and pitched horseshoes well into his 70's. He would create games out of anything - pitching rocks to the curb or dropping pennies into the cap of a hairspray can. He taught us kickball, kick the can, swimming and diving. He would hide a very small porcelain chick throughout the house for the grandkids to search and find. He was a kid at heart. Mom would answer the door to knocking finding a neighbor child asking "Can your big kid could come out and play".

He loved his family but family covered more than just the six of us. The extended family was a big part of his life also. The seven Braaten siblings had 31 children. When we joined together at their house on Intercity Avenue it was filled upstairs and downstairs with family. We enjoyed many reunions over the years and have tried to keep connections with all our relatives that dad loved so very much.

Times that he spent with his four children frequently included the neighbors. Seventeen bodies loaded into our old Mercury station wagon to make the trip to Calvary Lutheran Church in Everett for Vacation Bible School week.

Dad drove us across country, setting up a tent each night, to Minnesota for our church's Annual Synodical meeting. There were several trips to visit Aunty Inga in Pasadena and his sister Arline and her family in Sunnyvale.

He considered his church family and his community very important too. Evelyn Grabeal and Bertha Bates were some of the people he met through his work as a letter carrier. They called often to ask for help from their friend.

Everett Gospel Mission was a monthly part of his community service to God. He spent time singing, sharing and praying for the men at the mission. Bob had a passion for missions, especially foreign missions. His support financially as well as in prayer would continue to the end of his life. He lived his life in a way that touched many. While recovering from a near fatal massive heart attack, his first thought was to share the salvation plan with his roommate.

We are blessed by the memory of our father and will miss him in many ways. For you who have had an opportunity to know Bob personally or heard him share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our prayer is that you will find the assurance of eternal life that Bob now knows and that you will meet him again in heaven.