Roberta Van Houten Wempner, 85, of Rochester and formerly of Lake City, passed away on Sunday evening, November 13, 2022, at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester. She was born to Dora Van Houten on July 25, 1937, in rural Millville. Following her mother's untimely death, she was raised by her loving grandparents, Wesley and Clara Van Houten, and several aunts. Roberta grew up attending several different country and town schools throughout Wabasha County, finally earning her high school diploma through correspondence classes.

On August 3, 1955, she married her soulmate, Marvin Wempner. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to the farm outside Lake City that would be their home for 61 years until Marvin's death in 2015. They proudly named it Double Diamond Farm and raised, among other things, 3 children, Polled Herefords, and strawberries. When she wasn't working, Roberta and Marvin were well known on the local dance floors wherever they played old-time music. She also enjoyed playing cards with neighbors and friends, playing board games with family, reading, and quilting. In addition, she was a founding member of the "Hilltop Happy Hookers" crocheting and crafting circle.

In 1977, Roberta decided she wasn't working hard enough so she began picking apples for Pepin Heights Orchards. That part-time job became a full-time career, she was named Assistant Packing House Manager and suddenly, over 25 years had passed before retirement.

In the summer of 2015, Marvin and Roberta purchased a home in North Rochester, for when they decided to "retire from the farm". After his passing, Roberta moved into the Rochester house, sold the farm, and took up cruising and socializing with fellow members of the Red Hats.  She slowed down a bit after a serious health scare in 2017 and moved to an apartment in the Shorewood Senior Living Complex. In a year or so, she was on the move again, this time to San Carlos, Arizona to live with her daughter Roberta. At the end of 2019, she returned to Minnesota for a visit and another cruise and ended up staying in Rochester with her daughter Valerie and husband Brandon when her plans bumped headlong into the Coronavirus shutdown. Her final move, again dictated by her health, was to Madonna Meadows.

Roberta is survived by her three children; Roberta "Robin" Brown (Jose Almono) of Bakersfield, CA; Wesley Wempner (Keri) of Bedford, TX; and Valerie Smith (Brandon) of Rochester; five grandchildren; Michael Brown (Phyllis), Kevin Brown (Erinn), Brittany Perkins (Toby), Trevor Brown (Kathleen McDevitt), Gary Wempner (Shannon Ashbury), and grandson-in-law, Mitchell Smallwood; and nine great-grandchildren; Aaron Brown, Connor Smallwood, Macie Brown, Adam Perkins, Mason Brown, Cameron Smallwood, Emma Brown, Jonah Perkins, and Aubrey Brown. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; her granddaughter, Amanda Smallwood; and her son-in-law, Richard Brown.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 21, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City with Pastor Nathan Cordes officiating. Burial will follow the service in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Lake City. Friends and family may visit from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 20, at the Schleicher Funeral Homes, Lake City Chapel, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.