Natalia Obert, 86

Published Friday, April 17, 2009
Natalia “Tommy” Josephine Obert, 86, Alexandria, died April 14, 2009.
Natalia was born March 7, 1923 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Tollef and Ragna Thompson. Her family moved to Worthington when she was very young. In Worthington, she acquired a reputation as a tomboy, and thus her lifelong nickname of Tommy.
The Thompson family eventually moved to St. Paul and then Minneapolis, where Natalia graduated from Marshall High School.
She met John Obert in Minneapolis. They were married in Dallas, Texas on May 12, 1944. After John graduated from the University of Minnesota, they moved to Alexandria where John began his 18-year career with the Park Region Echo. Natalia was actively involved with DFL politics and the League of Women Voters during that time.

The family moved to Arlington, Virginia in 1966, where John began a 21-year career as a political press secretary and speechwriter. After John died in 1987, Natalia moved back to Alexandria, and to old friends.
In Alexandria, she loved playing golf and bridge – and lunching with the ladies. She never met a filet mignon, rare, that she didn’t like. She unsuccessfully attempted to teach her children in the ways of fine dining – that one should always order two martinis before even looking at the menu. She was also unsuccessful in teaching her children how to dance – “Feel the beat!”
She was successful, however, in teaching her children tolerance, progressive politics, a love of University of Minnesota athletics and the Twins (maybe not so much the Vikings or Timberwolves), and a love of reading.
Natalia is survived by her four children, Tom and wife, Ruth, of Alexandria, Gretchen and husband, Mohamed Chighali, of Washington, D.C., Chris and wife, Janet, of Stafford, Virginia, and Cameron and wife, Karen, of Mounds View; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The family has requested that donations in Natalia’s name be made to Knute Nelson Nursing Home, Outreach Food Shelf, or Alexandria Education Foundation.
A celebration of life service was held Saturday, April 18. Honorary urn bearers were Tom and Mary Kay Obert, Ted and Pearl Wahler and all the neighbors of Le Homme Dieu View.
Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.