Roberta Ann Werkmeister

Roberta Ann (Ruppert) Werkmeister, age 94, of Palisade, Nebraska passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. 

Roberta was born January 11, 1930, at Quick, NE to Clifford and Nellie (Boson) Ruppert. She attended grade school at District 101 which was located across the road from her parents’ home. She then attended high school at Curtis, NE where she lived in a dorm during the week and went home on weekends, a 30 plus mile trip!

Growing up, Roberta was her dad’s “boy,” she worked fields, tended cattle, milked cows, and fed hogs and chickens. After graduating high school, she began teaching rural school immediately. She also attended summer school at Kearney State College where she earned her teaching certificate.

Roberta met Raymond Werkmeister when he brought and picked up his twin sisters Arlene and Darlene from the school where she taught. They started dating within 4-5 months. Their common interest was dancing, and dancing they did! Hadley Barrett and Polka Dances were readily attended!

Roberta married Raymond on February 16, 1952 at the Quick Methodist Church. To this union five children were born: Shirley, Melody, Roger, Barbara Joy and Terri.

Roberta raised and sold fryer chickens. In her biggest year, she sold 500. The income helped pay the bills along with the cream and eggs she sold. Roberta continued to teach at country schools until 1962 when the couple moved to the farm south of McCook.

In 1967, Raymond and Roberta purchased a farmstead near Palisade, NE. Roberta worked at Ruppert Locker, Butler Beef Acres, as a janitor for McCook District 8 and a substitute teacher in Palisade and later the Librarian.

Roberta worked for Palisade Coop for many years, retiring at the young age of 86.

In her free time, Roberta drove an ensilage truck, cooked meals during harvest and delivered them to the fields, raised sweet corn and chickens to sell, and helped with irrigation. She also enjoyed baking cinnamon rolls and pies, working crossword puzzles, reading and jigsaw puzzles. Roberta crocheted numerous afghans over the years for friends and family to enjoy. She loved a good card game and did whatever it took to win including not even going easy on the little ones.

Roberta was an avid sports fan. She loved to watch and critique every good pitch, catch, swing, and shot or every missed pitch, catch, swing or shot her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren took as they competed. She played softball while in Kearney attending summer school and enjoyed watching college football, volleyball, baseball and basketball. Her favorite pro sports were baseball, basketball and football.

Roberta was a member of the Palisade UMC, Friendly Neighbor Club, a past member of the Palisade Public Library Board, Eve’s Circle, Pioneer Café Volunteer (Monday Night Pizza) and a 4-H Leader for many years.

Roberta is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; infant daughter, Barbara Joy; son-in-law, Bill Wilson; sister, Norma Sorge; great grand children, Erik Werkmeister, Austin Herbert and Olivia Herbert.

Roberta is survived by son, Roger (Janet) Werkmeister of McCook, NE; daughters, Shirley (Dennis) Ferguson of Palisade, NE, Melody Herbert of Chadron, NE and Terri Wilson of Palisade, NE; brother, Otis Ruppert of McCook, NE; brother-in-law, Roger (Phyllis) Sorge of Loveland, CO; sisters, Viola Greenlee of Columbia, MO and Shirley (Larry) Schlem of Ogallala, NE; sisters-in-law, Lois Bennett, Arlene Werkmeister and Pat Werkmeister. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorials contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made in her name to be designated at a later date.

A memorial service will be held Monday, September 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Palisade United Methodist Church in Palisade, NE with Rev. Jacob Keega, officiating. Burial of cremains will follow in the Palisade Cemetery.