Roberta M. Newell

Roberta Marie Newell, 94, 1037 19th St. S.W., Mason City, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Graveside services were held on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, with  Rev. Dr. Rhoda Preston of Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, officiating.  Family suggests memorials to Hospice of North Iowa.

Roberta was born in Storm Lake, Buena Vista County, Iowa, the daughter of Earl G. and Katherine Myrtle (Shaw) Ford.  She graduated from Albert City High School in 1937.  She met Dale  at a barn dance and they were  later  married  Aug. 12, 1937 in Fonda, Iowa.  They farmed near Laurens, Iowa, until 1944 when a tornado destroyed their farm buildings.  They moved to a farm north of Garner where they raised three girls.  They moved to Clear Lake in 1958 where she started working in real estate.  She worked for Rodewald Real Estate and Iowa Realty.  Roberta worked in real estate for 35 years, both in Oklahoma and Iowa, and also worked 13 years as a CMA taking care of the critically ill.  After retiring, she worked as a substitute teacher in grades first through fourth.  They enjoyed going to the Surf Ballroom to big band dances, fishing trips to northern Canada and spending their winters in Texas.  

     Roberta did many things with her busy life, raising three daughters, being a 4-H leader and 4-H chairman of Hancock County, President of Music Mothers at the girls’ school, and was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.  Roberta received the Realtor of the Year Award, was the secretary/treasurer of the county realtors and was a member of the Royal Neighbor Lodge.  

     Roberta is survived by her two daughters, Bonnye Reineke and her husband, Adolph, Forest City, Iowa, and Sharon Marie Newell, Johnston, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great grandchildren and several nephews and nieces.

     Roberta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale, Nov. 2, 2008; daughter, Karolyn Hoffman, May 9, 2010; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Geraldine Dunfee.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.