Roberta M. Brandsma
BRANDSMA, WALSH, BIRD, MINOR
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 10/23/2020 at 09:44:08
Roberta M. Brandsma, 85, died Monday, October 19, 2020 at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.
Roberta chose to be cremated. Private services will be held in Iowa City, with burial next spring in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Alcester, South Dakota.
Instead of flowers and plants, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be directed to her granddaughter’s orphanage, Foundation Enfant Jesus at https://fej-usa.networkforgood. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements.
Born January 8, 1935 in Flippin, Arkansas, the daughter of Robert and Cleo (Bird) Walsh, Roberta grew up in Arkansas until age 11. At that time, her family moved to Centerville, South Dakota.
After graduation from Centerville High School, Roberta attended South Dakota Teacher’s College in Springfield South Dakota. She began her teaching career in a country school, and then teaching third grade in Canton, South Dakota, where she met her future husband, Loren Brandsma.
Roberta and Loren were united in marriage on August 4, 1958. They lived most of their married life in Iowa. Roberta completed her Bachelor of Science at Iowa State University and her Master’s degree at University of Nebraska at Omaha. Roberta loved teaching and continued to substitute well into her 70’s.
Roberta and Loren retired in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they enjoyed reconnecting with family. In 2010, they relocated to Kalona, Iowa to be near their new grand-daughter, Claudia.
Roberta loved being a grandma, and she and Claudia spent many hours together. Their favorite pastime was reading, and they read many books together, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder series.
Roberta is survived by her husband Loren and a daughter Lori Minor, her husband, Bill, and their daughter Claudia, all of Iowa City.
Roberta was preceded in death by her parents, stillborn infant twin boys, and three sisters, Alice, Evelyn and Irene.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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