Small, Roberta A. (1926-2016)
SMALL, HEGSTROM, BIERMA, GRABINSKI, GREENE, HANSON, WATSON, WILLIAMS, THOMPSON, BOUGHEY, WILSON, KNUDTSON, CORRIE, DUMKREIGER, MIDDENDORFF
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 9/5/2016 at 15:51:03
Roberta A. Small
Mar 22, 1926 - Jun 10, 2016Rembrandt, Iowa
Roberta A. Small, age 90, of Rembrandt, passed away on Friday, June 10, 2016, at her home of Rembrandt.
Roberta Ann Hegstrom was born to Jay L. and Anna M. (Bierma) Hegstrom on March 22, 1926, and God called her home on June 10, 2016. She grew up on her parents’ dairy farm near Lawton, Iowa. After graduating from Lawton High School in 1943, she attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake. In 1945, she graduated with a teaching degree. While at Buena Vista, she met Wencil Dean Small. After teaching for two years, she married Wenc on May 29, 1947. They spent their first three years farming near Lawton, Iowa. In 1950, they moved to the Rembrandt area.
In their home south of Rembrandt, they raised four children: Marcia, Larry, Karen, and Gary. Roberta worked alongside Wenc on the farm and helped raise assorted livestock: cattle, hogs, chickens, ducks, lambs, and even Shetland ponies. Later, however, they scaled back to just grain farming. Their free time allowed them to travel, visiting family and friends, long-time friends, George and Helen Thompson, in Arizona and enjoying many trips with them. After Wencil died in a tragic farm accident in 2005, Roberta was able to remain on the farm and play an active role in its operation.
After the children started school, Roberta substituted in area schools. An active member of the Rembrandt United Methodist Church, she served as treasurer for nearly sixty years. She, always, kept the doors to her home open, most likely the coffee pot on, and cookies or some other dessert ready. She enjoyed gardening, reading books, and entertaining, but most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially when they made trips to Adventureland. She loved being surrounded by her four children, ten grandchildren, and twenty-one great grandchildren. Her memory will live on through her family and all those whose lives she touched. We are so fortunate that her mind remained as sharp as a tack until she was called home.
She is survived by her children: Marcia and Doug Grabinski, and Larry and Bonnie Small, of Clear Lake, Karen and Ben Greene, of Webb, and Gary and Julie Small, of Rembrandt; ten grandchildren: Brent and Betsy Grabinski, of Ankeny, Elissa (Grabinski) and Doyce Hanson, of Rock Valley, Jeff Grabinski, and fiancée, Johnisha Watson, of Louisville, Colorado, Charles and Heidi Small, of Newell, Amy (Greene) and Craig Williams, of Columbus, Nebraska, Brittanya (Small) and Nick Thompson, of Woodward, Beth (Greene) and Eric Boughey, of Webb, Justin and Gretchen Small, of Clear Lake, Tiara (Small) and Ryan Wilson, of Moneta, and Bradley and Nicole Greene, of Webb; twenty-one great-grandchildren: Taylor, Isaac, and Abigail Hanson, of Rock Valley, Allison, Rylie, Cole, and Aiden Knudtson, Ethan and Emma Boughey, and Paisley and Paxton Greene, all of Webb, Greta, Glenn, Graham, and Grace Small, of Newell, Alyvia, Connor, and Sawyer Williams, of Columbus, Nebraska, and Ian, Autumn, and Violet Thompson, of Woodward; her sister, Joyce Corrie, of Anthon; and her sister-in-law, Joyce Dumkreiger, of Storm Lake.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Wencil, in 2005; her granddaughters, Katie Lynn Greene and Jessica Ann Small; her parents Jay and Anne Hegstom; her father- and mother-in-law, Charles and Blanche Small; her brother, Gene Hegstrom, and his wife, Olive; her brother-in-law, Darrell Small, and his wife, Majorie; her sister-in-law, Oma Middendorff, and her husband, Art; her brothers-in-law, Wallace Corrie and John Dumkrieger; two nieces, Lyn Dee Middendorff and Stacy Dumkrieger; her nephew, Tom Corrie; and her great-nephew, Michael Corrie.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Unity Point Hospice, Rembrandt Fire and Rescue, Rembrandt Public Library, Iowa Department for the Blind Library or a charity of your choice.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2016, at 10:30 AM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Rembrandt with Pastor Kim A. Dewey officiating. Burial will follow at Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery, Storm Lake. Visitation will take place on Friday, June 17, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Alta.
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