Roberta Paulette Schwenke

Roberta Paulette Roseno was born to Robert and Evelyn (Kjenstad) Roseno in Stanely, North Dakota on August 26, 1942. The family moved frequently and lived in several towns in North Dakota. They eventually moved to the Mercer, North Dakota area where she graduated from Mercer High School in 1960.

After graduating from high school, she was introduced to Rodney and Vernice Wetterlund at a social gathering. This introduction was the beginning of a life-long friendship and she accepted their invitation to move to Minneapolis to work and build her life. After several years in Minneapolis she moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada to attend Winnipeg Bible Institute. After graduating from the Institute she returned to Minneapolis. She worked at Benson Optical in downtown Minneapolis for several years until her first child, Naomi, was born in 1975. She had two more children, Esther and Hannah, within the next several years and worked as a stay at home mom for the next several decades in several locations including Montana, St. Lucia, Barbados and St. Vincent. In 1994 she started working at the University of Minnesota in medical imaging and later in human resources.  She worked at the University of Minnesota until her retirement in 2011.

Roberta was devoted to her faith and to her family. She was a kind and generous friend to everyone she met, and laughter was her favorite medicine. She loved a good conversation over a good cup of coffee and loved spending time with her grandchildren and lifelong friends. She would devise a good, friendly prank and then sit back and watch it play out with a twinkle in her eye and a warm smile. She loved the holidays and went out of her way to make sure everyone had food and the perfect gift to celebrate the occasion.

Roberta will be greatly missed by her children: Naomi (Nathan Gustafson) Schwenke, Esther (David) Mulder, and Hannah Schwenke; grandchildren: Reghan, Sadie, and Dana; her siblings: Darlene (Richard) DeMars, David (Denise) Roseno, Doris (Glen) Conradson, Ruth (Preston) Butcher, Leslie Roseno; her siblings-in-law: Paulette Roseno, Ernie & Diane Schwenke, Faith Hill, Hope & David Reinhardt, Sharon Schwenke; her nieces and nephews: Mark (Jan) DeMars, Troy (Tiffany) DeMars, Heidi (Aaron) Larson, David (Mindy) Roseno, Suzanne (Leo) Ocampo, Elizabeth (Robert) Salazar, Craig (Nicki) Roseno, Laurie (David) Pinelli, Eric Roseno, Stephen (Ashley) Roseno, Amy Butcher, Cameron (Samantha) Butcher, Kelsey Blazer; Stuart (Dawn) Schwenke, Stephen Schwenke, Jerry Schwenke, Jenelle Schwenke, Tami (LeRoy) Treu, Ted (Brenda) Hill, Hans (Lisa) Reinhardt, Derick (Daniel Castillo) Reinhardt, Dustin (Carla) Reinhardt, Heidi (Kane) Cotton; several cousins, especially Harold (Ingrid) Carpenter and George (Sue) Sommerfield; and individuals she considers to be her chosen family: Vernice Wetterlund, Ronald (Judy) Wetterlund, Jan (John) Nicholson, Carol (Daryl) Gabrielson, David (Marcia) Wetterlund.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Evelyn Roseno; sibling, Lauren Roseno; sister-in-law, Connie Roseno; brother-in-law, Tom Hill; nephew, Todd DeMars; chosen family, Rodney Wetterlund.

Roberta passed away on October 31, 2020 at the age of 78.

An invitation only Visitation and Celebration of Life service will be held at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, MN at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Visitation one hour prior. The service will also be available via livestream on Fourth Baptist Church's website. A family graveside service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Park River, ND at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Visitation one hour prior. Social distancing guidelines will be followed, and masks are required at all gatherings.

Memorials preferred to:
WCTS Radio
AngelsGrace Hospice (online https://www.prohealthcare.org/ways-to-give/donate/give-online/ or ProHealth Care Foundation, 725 American Ave., Waukesha, WI 53188 - designate to “AngelsGrace Hospice”)