Roberts, Roberta Bell

Roberta Bell Roberts, 96, died at Higley Mansion Care Center in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. Memorial services will be in Keosauqua at a later date. Cremation entrusted to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

A lifetime resident of Van Buren County, Mrs. Roberts was born to James and Leta Easter on June 30, 1913, on the Easter Honey Creek farm near Bonaparte.

In 1927, the family moved to Bonaparte to the large house known as “Hill Top.” As a young girl Roberta played the violin and learned to quilt. She graduated from Bonaparte High School, where she played on the girls' basketball team. Roberta earned a teaching certificate from Parsons College in Fairfield and taught at Prairie Queen, a one-room school near Mount Sterling.

On June 2, 1934, Roberta married Arthur Roberts. They spent the majority of their life together farming in Van Buren County, moving to Cedar Rapids in 2000 when Arthur's health declined.

Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; her sisters, Edith Harness and Kathryn Dhority; her brothers, Robert, William and twins John and Hugh; and infant great-grandson, Joshua Crist.

She is survived by her daughters, Betty Crist of suburban Denver, Colo., and Mary Wauer (husband John) of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Shari Crist, Jaye Crist, Tracy Lombardi, Jennifer Shirley, Jeffrey Wauer and Suzanne Fransen; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.

Roberta was a wonderful friend and neighbor, a loving mother and grandmother, and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Memorials to Center Chapel United Methodist Church may be mailed to the family at 3120 Adirondack Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.