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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Betty Esther Roberts
Betty Esther
Roberts
March 31, 1920 – September 26, 2009
Betty Esther Roberts' Obituary
Betty Esther Roberts, the daughter of Leslie and Margaret Mitchell Ross was born March 31, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska. She passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, Red Oak, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 5 months and 26 days.
Betty was raised in Sidney, Iowa and graduate from Sidney High School in l937. She attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, studying music and English, graduating in l941. She began her teaching career in Shannon City, Iowa. In 1943, Betty enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving during WW II. While in the Marine Corps, Betty met O. E. "Robbie" Roberts, and they were married on March 30, 1944 at Camp Lejune, NC. After their military service, Betty and Robbie moved to Des Moines, Iowa. She began teaching again for the school districts of Runnels and later Manly, Hanlonton, Kensett until they moved to Sidney in 1960. Betty then taught at Riverton, Sidney and Hamburg schools from 1960 to l978. During her years of teaching, she also judged state speech contests. In September of 1974, her husband Robbie died. Four years later, Betty began a new career as a law enforcement dispatcher and jail matron for Fremont County. Betty was a member of the Sidney American Legion, having served as the first women Commander of that post, and one of the first women in the country to be named to that position. While living in Sidney, Betty worked 26 years for the Sidney Iowa Rodeo, both in the office and overseeing the queen candidates. Betty moved to Red Oak in l986. She worked as a police dispatcher until her son Steve was appointed Police Chief in l999. At that time, she was 79, and the oldest active police dispatcher in Iowa, and undoubtedly among the oldest in the nation. Betty served a term as secretary and treasurer of the Southwest Iowa Peace Officers Association. She returned to teaching for Red Oak High School during the 2000-2001 year for four months as a speech instructor. Betty was a 70 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, currently with the HB Chapter of Red Oak. Betty was part of the church family at Faith Community Church in Red Oak.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robbie in September of 1974; and sister, Mary Ellen Greedy. Betty is survived by her son, Steve Roberts and wife Kathy of Red Oak, IA; 7 grandchildren: Kaeleen Roberts and friend Mike Josephson of Red Oak, IA; Donna "DJ" Roberts of Ralston, NE; Kyle Roberts and friend Amy Johnson of Red Oak, IA; Mark Roberts of Ft. Myers, FL; Mo Roberts and wife Jennifer of Red Oak, IA; Shona Pennington of Marshalltown, IA; and Shannon Pennington of Marshalltown, IA; 5 great-grandchildren: Denton Roberts, Noah Roberts, Charlie Davis, Eli Davis, and Will Roberts; brother, Dr. Robert Ross and wife Mary of Waterloo, IA; other relatives and many friends.
May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
at Faith Community Church, Red Oak.
Burial at Farragut Cemetery, Farragut, Iowa at 2:00 p.m.
Rev. David MacDonald, Officiating
Visitation with the family present on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home.
Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers in Betty's name.
Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Betty was raised in Sidney, Iowa and graduate from Sidney High School in l937. She attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, studying music and English, graduating in l941. She began her teaching career in Shannon City, Iowa. In 1943, Betty enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving during WW II. While in the Marine Corps, Betty met O. E. "Robbie" Roberts, and they were married on March 30, 1944 at Camp Lejune, NC. After their military service, Betty and Robbie moved to Des Moines, Iowa. She began teaching again for the school districts of Runnels and later Manly, Hanlonton, Kensett until they moved to Sidney in 1960. Betty then taught at Riverton, Sidney and Hamburg schools from 1960 to l978. During her years of teaching, she also judged state speech contests. In September of 1974, her husband Robbie died. Four years later, Betty began a new career as a law enforcement dispatcher and jail matron for Fremont County. Betty was a member of the Sidney American Legion, having served as the first women Commander of that post, and one of the first women in the country to be named to that position. While living in Sidney, Betty worked 26 years for the Sidney Iowa Rodeo, both in the office and overseeing the queen candidates. Betty moved to Red Oak in l986. She worked as a police dispatcher until her son Steve was appointed Police Chief in l999. At that time, she was 79, and the oldest active police dispatcher in Iowa, and undoubtedly among the oldest in the nation. Betty served a term as secretary and treasurer of the Southwest Iowa Peace Officers Association. She returned to teaching for Red Oak High School during the 2000-2001 year for four months as a speech instructor. Betty was a 70 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, currently with the HB Chapter of Red Oak. Betty was part of the church family at Faith Community Church in Red Oak.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Robbie in September of 1974; and sister, Mary Ellen Greedy. Betty is survived by her son, Steve Roberts and wife Kathy of Red Oak, IA; 7 grandchildren: Kaeleen Roberts and friend Mike Josephson of Red Oak, IA; Donna "DJ" Roberts of Ralston, NE; Kyle Roberts and friend Amy Johnson of Red Oak, IA; Mark Roberts of Ft. Myers, FL; Mo Roberts and wife Jennifer of Red Oak, IA; Shona Pennington of Marshalltown, IA; and Shannon Pennington of Marshalltown, IA; 5 great-grandchildren: Denton Roberts, Noah Roberts, Charlie Davis, Eli Davis, and Will Roberts; brother, Dr. Robert Ross and wife Mary of Waterloo, IA; other relatives and many friends.
May God bless her memory and give strength to those who mourn.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
at Faith Community Church, Red Oak.
Burial at Farragut Cemetery, Farragut, Iowa at 2:00 p.m.
Rev. David MacDonald, Officiating
Visitation with the family present on Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home.
Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers in Betty's name.
Sellergren-Lindell-DeMarce Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
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