Roberta 'Birdie' VanCleave 1950-2010

VANCLEAVE, CHRESTENSEN, BLANFORD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/20/2011 at 20:47:24

Sioux City Journal
13 June 2010

SIOUX CITY -- Roberta J. "Birdie" VanCleave, 59, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, June 10, 2010, at a local hospital.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Central Assembly of God Church, 2300 West 19th Street. Interment will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Waterbury Funeral Service in Sergeant Bluff.

Roberta was born Dec. 22, 1950, in Sioux City, the daughter of Robert and Joyce (Chrestensen) Blanford. She graduated with a GED from Wayne State College at age 42.

Roberta was first married to Donald Hansen in Atlantic, Iowa, and had her first two children, Donnie and Marty. Her second marriage was to James Hilton in Sioux City, and she had two more children, Jason and Justin along with her stepdaughters, Tasha, Becky and Cassandra.

Roberta enjoyed her hobbies, outdoor activities of fishing and camping. Her indoor activities included scrapbooking, crafts and playing dice with her friends. She loved all her family and had many friends. She enjoyed the time she spent with her special friend, Ward Orr. She was a member of Central Assembly of God.

Roberta is survived by her special friend, Ward Orr; two sons, Jason Hilton and his wife, Sheila and Justin Hilton and his wife, Aracely; one sister, Rhonda Sitzman; four brothers, Danny Blanford and his wife, Bonnie, David Blanford and his wife Paula, Darrell Blanford and his wife, Carol, and Darwin Blanford and his wife, Debbie, all of Sioux City; her grandchildren, Jessica, Shaun, Jacob, Miranda, Autumn, Leslie, Matthew, Auston, Jonathan and her four extended grandchildren; two great-granddaughters, Paige and Myli; and her special pen pal, Dani.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband; and two sons, Donald Hansen and Marty Hansen.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Duane and Sharon Kunkel and family, plus all of Roberta's friends for the love and support given to her through her time of illness.