Opera singer, journalist Babb, 85, traveled the world

By J.J. Jensen
Seattle Times staff reporter

Marion Amy (Standahl) Babb died of a stroke at 85.

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"My grandmother had impeccable taste and class and was a strong advocate in etiquette and grammar," said Melissa King-Neumiller of Sammamish. "Up until she died, she still continued to correct our speech."

Mrs. Babb died of a massive stroke Friday (Sept. 3). She was 85.

Mrs. Babb was born Dec. 1, 1918, in Mayville, N.D., to Ole R and Minnie (Johnson) Standahl. Between making mud pies with friends and swimming in the Goose River, a love for music developed at an early age. With no pitch pipes for singing at her grammar school, she would simply lead classmates in songs.

After graduating from high school and what is now Mayville State University in North Dakota, she followed her parents to Seattle, where she continued to sing, as a member of the choir at the Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church, and in local concerts. Soon after, she was invited to sing at more concerts in North Dakota and her career mushroomed.

Her operatic training included Fritz Lehmann at Vienna Staatsoper, Maestro Vittorio Ruffo at La Scala in Milan, Italy, and William Pierce Hermann, in New York.

During the 1940s through '60s, Mrs. Babb performed at operas, theaters and nightclubs. Included in her operatic repertoire was the part of Tigrana, in the first U.S. performance of Giacomo Puccini's "Edgar." She sang with Steve Allen at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.

Previously married twice, Mrs. Babb cut back on performances when she married Dr. Albert (Les) Babb, who directed the design of the automated, portable kidney dialysis machine at the University of Washington.

Mrs. Babb, along with her sister, Agnes, and brother-in-law Mike Yurocko, a former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, would accompany Dr. Babb when he'd travel to Asia and Europe to present lectures. The two sisters enjoyed traveling and would shop with gusto, said Dr. Babb.

"Mike and I used to joke the sisters would pack enough stuff for a six-month stay," he said. "The two of us nearly broke our backs carrying all their things."

When she wasn't traveling, Mrs. Babb, who earned a Master's in Journalism from the UW in the 1960s, served as editor of Seattle business publication, "Some Talk and Some Business," her family said. She was also active in Women in Communications, the National Federation of Press Women, UW President's Club, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Opera and Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and continued to sing with the Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church.
 
"She just was a social butterfly," said King-Neumiller. "She always wanted to make an impression."

Mrs. Babb is survived by Dr. Babb, son Lawrence Dennis Bilden, of Escondido, Calif.; daughter Gwen King, of Tacoma; three granddaughters, three grandsons, six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

A viewing will be from 2 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Bonney Watson Funeral Home, 1732 Broadway Ave. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church, 3201 Hunter Boulevard S. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Seattle Opera, Northwest Kidney Foundation or Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian Church.

J.J. Jensen: 206-464-2761 or jjensen@seattletimes.com