Bobbi Seibel, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully at home in Boise with her husband by her side on January 2nd, after a long struggle with dementia and a short fight with cancer. During her final weeks she was attended by angel nurses and an angel CNA from St. Luke’s Hospice, as well as her children and grandchildren, either in person or via video calls. It was a deeply emotional and sacred time for the family.
Born Roberta Ann Walters in 1948 in Berkeley, California, Bobbi was raised in a middle-class neighborhood in next-door Oakland, where there were many young families and fun things to do. Her parents were Harold and Gertrude (Fritz) Walters. Dad was a career painter with Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Mom was a stay-at-home mom until Bobbi was about 10, when she began work as a secretary for a construction firm. Bobbi had one sibling, Kathleen, who was four years older and a great, watchful big sister.
Bobbi often shared wonderful childhood memories of playing paper dolls, roller skating, playing make-believe with friends, becoming a crossing guard sergeant, being part of a local chapter of the Mickey Mouse Club, and singing many fun songs around the campfire at summer camps!
At age 14, she joined Job’s Daughters, a young women service organization affiliated with the Masonic order, and for 3 years she very much enjoyed being a “Jobie,” with all the activities, leadership opportunities, friendships, and a sense of belonging.
She was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by a junior high school friend, and after two years of attending church and seminary with her friend, she was baptized shortly before she turned 16. She always insisted that hers wasn’t a deep, doctrinal conversion at first, but a feeling that she was “coming home” and that she wanted very much to be a part of it. That young member-missionary classmate has remained the dearest of friends to this day. Bobbi diligently fed that early testimony and gained a deep, doctrinal testimony, too. She served faithfully in the Church wherever called and always sought to magnify her callings.
Bobbi earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Library Science from Brigham Young University in the late ’60’s and early ’70’s. She worked for attorneys and law libraries in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, then served as Technical Services Director for the Alameda County Law Library in Oakland for several years.
In her college days, she also had the great fun of driving the Bookmobile for the Murray Public Library in Murray, Utah!
In 1981, after a wonderful, year-long courtship, Bobbi and fairly new and very enthusiastic convert, Dan Seibel, were married in the Oakland Temple. They built a good life together, raised four beautiful, capable daughters, and enjoyed welcoming 11 grandchildren to the family. They pulled up their California stakes in 1990 and resettled in Boise, where they enjoyed raising their children in its family-friendly environment.
Even though Bobbi became a mother later in life than many, she proved to be a wonderful and capable mother, and her children bless her name. She wasn’t usually one for many words, but she taught her daughters by action and love how to appreciate nature, reading, journal writing, music, gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting, prayer, and the gospel, and she supported them in countless music and dance lessons and performances.
She contracted aggressive breast cancer in the early ’90’s, but after a long, difficult season of chemotherapy, she was blessed to pull through. She also (with all the kids) survived a horrific car accident in 1995. Her family continues to be very grateful that her life had been spared.
Bobbi had a deep passion for family history and temple work. She spent many intense hours researching difficult family lines, gathering data and stories, and making sure everything was documented. Her sister, who sadly passed away many years ago, also shared in the family history passion, and together they accomplished many great things. Bobbi loved attending the temple and performing ordinances for the dead, and did so regularly until her final few months.
She was also adept in the arts of quilting and sewing and graced her home with many beautiful creations, and gifted her daughters with many fun outfits and costumes. Many happy hours were spent in monthly meetings with dear friends in her quilting group.
Bobbi also was able to work outside the home part time as the kids got older. She enjoyed fun seasons as a “cast member” at The Disney Store, organizing records and photos at the Idaho State Historical Society, and serving in the reading and testing programs with the Boise School District. She enjoyed many fun times working and lunching with the great ladies of “Team 1” in the testing program.
She also enjoyed being a member of two different string bands with her musical husband and dear friends. She wielded the amazing 36-string Autoharp for The Council Bluffers (pioneer songs band) and Strings Afire (bluegrass and folk band)! She had great fun performing for Church events and senior living centers.
Bobbi is survived by her husband Dan, daughters Emily Judd (Nathan), Julie Niblett (Cole), Erica Davis (John) and Melissa La Chappelle (Matt), and dear grandchildren Easton, Lincoln, Mason, Max, Jane, Kate, Kinsley, Logan, Penny, Hazel and Samuel.
She is deeply loved and missed, and we are heartbroken, but also secure in the assurance that she is finally bright, strong and exuberant again in a much better world. Until we meet again.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor in Garden City. Service to be held Friday, January 17, 11:00 AM (with 10:00 AM visitation), at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8620 Goddard Rd, Boise.
To attend the service virtually please visit https://zoom.us/j/97608990570