Jacqueline "Jackie" A. Roberts

Jacqueline A. “Jackie” (Stenberg) Roberts, 79 of Devils Lake formerly of Oberon, ND passed away on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Heartland Care Center in the loving care of family and Altru Hospice.

Jacqueline Adelle Stenberg was born on December 19, 1938, to Alvin “Ollie” and Blanche (Dabson) Stenberg on the family farm at Oberon, ND. She attended Hamar Public School for 4 years and graduated from Oberon High School with the class of 1956. 

Jackie married her high school sweetheart, Lester H. Roberts Jr. on June 2, 1958 at the Congregational Church in Oberon. They lived several places in their first years of marriage as Lester was attending college and teaching. 

In 1966, they moved to the Stenberg farm where they lived, worked side by side and raised their children for the next 51 years, moving to Devils Lake in 2017.

Before her marriage to Lester, Jackie worked in the Benson County Auditor’s office and after marriage she was the hard-working, dedicated farm wife, doing whatever was necessary to keep the operation going, the family and hired help fed and with great devotion and love, caring for her husband, children and grandchildren. No family, friend, or stranger ever left Jackie’s house without enjoying a good cup of coffee and some of her delicious baked goodies that never seemed to run out. 

Jackie was an active member of the Congregational Church and Calvary Lutheran Church in Oberon until moving to Devils Lake and then attending Our Savior’s Lutheran Church when able. Jackie was diagnosed with cancer on her birthday, December 19, 2012, and with great faith, courageously fought the battle for a cure for the next six years. 

When there was time for fun, Jackie participated in league bowling in Maddock, was an avid reader, skilled at solving crossword puzzles and never missed a chance to go ice fishing.

Jackie’s faith, her determination, her loving spirit will be carried in our hearts forever.

Jackie’s family includes her husband of 60 years, Lester; children Roberta “Bobbi” (Tom) Duberowski, Parkers Prairie, MN, Lezlee Thorson (Bob Hoffart) of Devils Lake and Justin Roberts, Oberon; eight grandchildren Scott (Kayla) Duberowski, Jason (Brandi) Duberowski, Jim (Jackie) Duberowski, Ryan (Megan) Thorson, Kayla Thorson, Sean (Stephanie) Thorson, Krissy (Andy) Hillier, Carrie (Ben) Tufte; eleven great grandchildren Taylor, Marisa, Isaiah, Brittany, Jersie and Aubrey Duberowski, Aiden Thorson, Beckett and Rory Hillier, Olivia and Isabel Tufte; sisters Janice Ploium (Leslie) Ferry, Devils Lake and Sharon (Dwight) Nelson, Shawnee, Kansas; in-laws Roger Roberts, Devils Lake, Delores Stack, Minot, ND, Jean Olson, Mesa AZ, June Sabbe, Harvey, ND and Marlene (John) Miller also of Mesa, Arizona; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law Michael Thorson; brother Dale Stenberg and his wife Hazel; mother-in-law and father-in-law Lester and Otilla Roberts Sr.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Albert Ploium, Paul Stack, LaVern Roberts, Juanita Roberts, Oscar Olson and Leroy Sabbe;

Funeral Services for Jackie will be held next Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Reverend Tom Westcott officiating. Jackie will be laid to rest in Hillside Cemetery, rural Oberon, ND in the spring.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, December 21, 2018 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and will continue on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.