Bradley History

Ruth Johanna Halvorson Bradley died in Renton, Washington, on February 15, 2010. She would have been 90 years old on February 28.

She is survived by her sister Ethel Pease of Bremerton, Washington; brother Harold Halvorson of Novato, California; daughter and son-in-law Virgene Deutsch and Marc Stevenson of Kennewick, Washington; daughter and son-in-law Jan and Joe Bard, granddaughters Sydney Bard and Linze Bard, and great-grandson Lucas Owen Bard, all of Maple Valley, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years Robert Owen Bradley, and her mother and father Petra and Rasmus Halvorson of Wolf Point, Montana. Ruth's family is grateful for the loving care she received during her last 1½ years by her caregiver and friend, Harriet Vailencour.

Ruth was born on February 28, 1920, on the family homestead in Wolf Point, Montana. Living on a remote wheat ranch, she rode a horse to elementary school and had to board in town during high school. She was the Spelling Bee champion for the state of Montana.

Ruth came from a musical family. At barn dances in her youth, she played piano while her father played violin. She was also a drummer, joining a drum and bugle corps after high school, and learning to play the Irish bodhran drum at age 80. Ruth was an accomplished china painter and was generous in sharing her paintings. Ruth's one weakness was her sweet tooth, having grown up making and eating Norwegian cookies.

She worked her way through college as a secretary, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Medical Technology. She married Robert O. Bradley in 1944, had two daughters, Genie Deutsch and Jan Bard, and in 1953 moved to Renton. She was honored as Washington State Medical Technologist of the Year 1975. She retired after over 35 years, as head of the Laboratory at Valley Medical Center in Renton. She was an active member of Renton's First United Methodist Church for 57 years. She volunteered for many community organizations including the Friendly Kitchen, Renton Historic Society, and Children's Orthopedic Hospital guilds.

 

Robert O. Bradley of Renton died July 29, 1999, in Seattle.  He was 78.  Born Feb. 1, 1921, in Temple, Texas, Mr. Bradley served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, serving both the European and Pacific Theaters and flying missions over the English Channel in his Spitfire.   He graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis and Macalister College in St. Paul, Minn.  He married Ruth Halvorson in 1944 in St. Paul, Minn., and was a resident of Renton since 1954. 

He worked as an engineering coordinator at the Boeing Co. 17 yrs and owned an coin store in Seattle.  He was a member of the Renton First United Methodist Church.  He enjoyed studying ancient history, traveling, woodworking, growing roses and collecting masks.

Mr. Bradley was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.  He is survived by his wife of 54 yrs., Ruth Bradley, daughters Virgene Deustch of Richland and Janis Bard of Maple Valley, and two grandchildren.

 

 

Now, from the beginning!

Ruth grew up the oldest daughter of Norwegian Immigrants, Petra and Rasmus Halvorson.  Her brother, Harold was 9 years younger, then came sister, Ethel at 11 yrs.  Ruth learned to cook, sew and play music.  She rode a horse 3 miles to grade school, breaking her collarbone several times when the horse shook her off!  

Petra, Ruth, Rasmus, Harold and Ethel Halvorson

 

Ruth was a brilliant student, skipping one grade.   She had to stay in Wolf Point during the high school years, coming home on weekends.  After graduation, Ruth  worked in Butte, Montana, saving money for college, but always sending home a $1 a week for piano lessons for Ethel and Harold.

 She was accepted into the Medical Technology program in St. Paul, Minnesota. She remained lifelong friends during her college years with  Eleanore Bredvold, Ruth Lawless, the Scumachers and the Penners.

 It was traveling back from Wolf Point on a visit home that she met her future husband, Bob, on leave from the Army Air Corps.  He gave up his seat on the crowded train to Ruth!

 

Bob grew up in Texas riding horses, working on the family farm.  He was the son of Sarah, a half Apache, her mother having been captured by Chiricahua Apaches to be sold in Mexico.  Sarah became pregnant and let go to find her way home.  Perhaps Bob's heritage gave him an intense interest in artifacts.  He found his first arrowhead by stubbing his bare foot on it!     He also shot a black panther with one of his found arrowheads.  These black mt. lions were plentiful at the time in Texas, killing the livestock.

Sarah and Owen Bradley with kids Bob and nephew Bill Baggett (R)

Bob  volunteered to fight the Germans at the start of WWII for the English.  In London, they taught him to fly a Spitfire to defend against the Germans flying raids over England.   He became part of the  Eagle Squadron, pilots from other countries flying for England.   He was shot down and picked up by then 17 yr old Princess Elizabeth, driving in an ambulance.  When he recovered, he was invited to the palace and allowed to see their museum.  Thus, more interest bloomed in artifacts!

When the United States entered the war, he joined the Army Air Corps and flew from England on a B-17, and in the Philippines.  Here he flew supplies to Taiwan and met Chaing Kai-shek.  After the war ended, he worked for England as an ambassador and was parachuted into the African Lake Victoria area to settle a border dispute.  This is when he started his love and collection of African masks.

After the war he came home to Texas to find his arrowhead and western saddle collections GONE!  And the panther hide.  Seemed no one thought he would survive!

He set off to St Paul, Minnesota,  getting a BS degree from Macalister College, and meeting his future wife of 55 yrs. 

Dec 25, 1944, Ruth and Bob marriage!

Ding (Dr. Hartvig Robolt) and Ina (Tausta) Robolt, Ruth and Bob Bradley

Genie (Virgene Ann Deutsch) was born 1945 and Janis (Jan Bard) was born 1949.

They set off for Seattle, where Bob worked for Boeing 17 yrs, always the artifact collector.  He  went on to start his own store, the Dollar Bill, a coin and artifact store in Seattle.  He was always ready for a good trade!

*************

 Ruth was Chief Medical Technologist at Valley General Hospital in Renton for 35 years. 

She was active in the State Society of Medical Technologists and became president.

 Ruth loved to sew and was a fantastic china painter.  And her love of music was evident in the drums and piano she played.   They both enjoyed babysitting the grandkids, Syd and Linze Bard.

More information can be found on the Bard's web site of their horse ranch-  As much as Ruth hated horses, Bob, growing up on a Texas ranch, passed his love for horses on to Jan!    www.sirwrangler.com.