Roberta Grace (Neir) Graber, 76, died November 6,  2020, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.  She was born in Le Mars, Iowa, on December 27, 1943, to George and Alice Johnson Neir. She grew up on a farm in NW Iowa with her 2 brothers, John and Roger. An infant brother, Edward, preceded her in death at the age of 2 days. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother, John, all of her aunts and uncles and many cousins.

Roberta graduated from Meriden-Cleghorn High School in 1961. She also graduated from the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1965. After instructing student nurses for 2 years she returned to college and graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1969. Following graduation she was Director of the Children's Unit at Nebraska Psychiatric Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1972, she moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, to be closer to family. Her years in Hutchinson found her many different positions such as Instructor of Psychiatric Nursing at Hutchinson Hospital Corporation, Kindergarten teacher and Assistant Business Manager at Central Christian School, and Principal and teacher of grades K-8 at Heritage Christian School. During her years in Hutchinson, she also attended Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, receiving a Certificate of Completion of the 30 college hour Post University Bible Course, graduating in 1975.

Traveling quite extensively Roberta visited her brother, John, and his wife, Dorice, in Hong Kong on 3 occasions, and visited China at a later date with her husband. She also spent a summer in Iran, Jaya, Indonesia, assisting a missionary nurse with TEAM.

Back in the U.S. Roberta continued her teaching and nursing, at one time being director of Nursing at Oakwood Villa, and later directing the Psychiatric Unit at Pioneer Health Care Center in Rocky Ford, Colorado. From 1991 to 2002 she was MDS/Care Plan Coordinator at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson, Kansas.

August 11, 2002, Roberta married Donald Leon Graber and moved to Edinburg, Texas, and became an Associate Staff Member of Rio Grande Bible Institute along with her husband. They retired in April of 2012, returning to Hutchinson, Kansas, although they returned frequently to volunteer their services.

Don and Roberta have traveled to visit mission fields in Hong Kong, China, Bolivia, Mexico and Peru. Both shared a love for the Lord and for travel.

Besides her husband, Roberta leaves to mourn her brother, Roger and his wife, Mary, of Hutchinson, and sister-in-law, Dorice Neir. There are 8 nieces and nephews with spouses, and 34 great-nephews and nieces. Also surviving are 3 step-daughters, Cindy Anderson, and husband Jim, of Charlottesville, VA, Teresa Hoover of Overland Park and Karen Nachtigal of Wichita, and a step-daughter-in-law, Ann Graber, of Arlington, TX. There are 7 step-grandchildren and 12 step-step-great-grandchildren.

Roberta received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at 8 years of age on June 15, 1952, while attending Revival Services held in Sioux City, Iowa, under the ministry of Dr. Robert Cook. At 12 years of age she dedicated her life to the Lord to be used however He would choose for her. She always had a passion for serving the Lord along with her great love of Children.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 13, 2020, at Berean Baptist Church, 1620 Center, Hutchinson, with Pastor Roger Neir officiating. Burial will follow in Darlow Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, with the family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church or Rio Grande Bible Institute, Edinburg, TX, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS  67501.