Retha Joan (Stevens) Libby

NORTH BELGRADE – Retha Joan (Stevens) Libby, 88, passed through the gates of heaven on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at her home on Route 8 with her family by her side.

Retha was born in Oakland on May 27, 1935, to Ormand and Florence Stevens. Retha was the youngest of 10 children and lived on the family farm in North Belgrade. She attended Belgrade schools graduating from Belgrade High School in 1953. Retha met the love of her life, Gerald Libby, in the spring of 1953, and they were married on November 14th of that year. Gerald served with the U.S. Army after they were married, and they relocated to San Fransisco, where Gerald was stationed for two years. Returning to Maine, Retha and Gerald purchased a home on Route 8 in North Belgrade, where they lived and raised their family.

Retha was a home maker until her children reached school age. She returned to school in 1970 and became a Certified Nurse’s Aide. She was soon hired at Thayer Hospital in Waterville where she happily worked until her retirement in June of 1997. She loved her time at Thayer and made many friends. It was here that she met Erma Blakney and Barbara Cook, who became her best friends for life.

Retha loved to spend time with her family. She especially loved the family gatherings at Gramp’s Beach on Salmon Lake on Sunday afternoons, potluck suppers at her father’s house and the North Belgrade Community Center, and the many family reunions throughout the years. Her father Ormand’s homemade popovers were one of her favorite treats. We suspect she may be enjoying them again with her mother and father, nine brothers and sisters and her beloved husband.

Retha and Gerald shared a love for dancing and often times made a trip to The Blue Goose Dancehall in Belfast or the Fox Den in Fairfield. They took the opportunity to dance whenever they could. They also traveled around the United States whenever possible to visit their son Stuart and his family while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Retha was a well-known fan of the Winslow Black Raiders, where three of her granddaughters attended school. She could be spotted cheering them on at basketball games, the soccer field, and hockey games at Sukee Arena. She loved to support her granddaughters and would sometimes cheer for both teams.

Retha was loved by everyone that knew her. She made special treats that no one could refuse and would make them for no reason other than love. She was a doer of no wrong, and she was loving and kind toward everyone. She loved softball and baseball, her grandbabies, the Young and the Restless, and Skip-Bo. She could have lived on ice cream. She will always be our sunshine.

Retha was predeceased by her husband Gerald, her son David, her mother and father, Ormand and Florence, her sisters Margaret, Annie, Katherine, Francis and Rosa and her brothers Ormand Jr., Kenneth, Leonard, and Edward.

She is survived by her daughter Brenda and son Wyatt of North Belgrade, son Steve and wife Mae of North Belgrade and their children, Nichole, Stephanie, Dawn (Michael), and Duane (Kris), son Stuart and wife Nathlie of Pelham, NH, and their children Miana (Clinton) and Nathaniel and son Gary and wife Sally of Winslow and their daughters Hillary and Jenna. Also, sister-in-law Alberta Stevens; ten great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 116 Silver Street, Waterville, followed by a burial at Pine Grove Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Belgrade.

The family would like to thank Maine General Homecare and Hospice for their care of Retha and her family through her final days. We would also like to send a special thank you to Retha’s niece, Roberta Pine, who was there at a moment’s notice to help Aunt Retha and her family in any way she could.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Retha’s name to Maine General Homecare and Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, Maine 04903, or to your favorite charity or organization.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.