Rick Roberts, age 73, went to be with the Lord October 2, 2024 in Grand Junction, Colorado.
He was born April 1, 1951, in Chadron, Nebraska, to Charles and Lenita Roberts. Rick graduated from Chadron High School in 1969 and married Loretta Mathis in December 1973.
He spent most of his life working in agriculture—custom bale stacking, hay and corn silage harvesting, ranching, and feeding cattle. He loved his horses, dogs, and cattle. His great satisfaction was watching the calves (the “little buggers”) all line up at the feeders to eat.
With a sparkle in his eye, he was always up for an adventure and trying new things. Never one to do something just because it had always been done that way, Rick was always thinking, researching, and inventing a better way, whether it was preserving crops, feeding cattle, fixing machinery, or investing in the futures market.
After living in northwest Nebraska for all his life, Rick and Loretta moved to Grand Junction in December 2019 to live near their youngest grandchildren. Rick loved being close to the Yoseph kids. Moving to the city and mountains was difficult for him after being in the open spaces of Nebraska, but he appreciated getting to know people from all walks of life through Calvary Bible Church. He also jumped at the chance to help refugees from Afghanistan adjust to life in America.
He was a driven, hard worker, but was also known for his funny one-liners and “Grampa-isms.” He was tender-hearted and generous, always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. As he faced many challenges throughout the years, he maintained what his family called his eternal optimism.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bruce. He is survived by his wife, Loretta, and children Matt (Kari) Roberts, Nita “Noni” (Tim) Gess, Daryn (Jenny) Roberts, Marci (Leul) Yoseph, and Lane Roberts, fourteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, brother Rodger (Brenda) Roberts, and sister Janet Moore.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2 p.m. MT at Calvary Bible Church of Grand Junction.