Obituary Details

Leon R. Roberts

(12/23/1886 - 11/19/1954)
Courtesy of Lusk Free Lance, 11/25/1954

Military Rites Accorded the Late Leon R. Roberts; Services Are Here Monday; Interment Made In Crawford Cemetery

Leon R. Roberts, brother of Rulo Roberts of Lusk and Hat Creek, passed away at 6:30 o'clock, Friday morning, November 19th, in the Veterans hospital in Cheyenne, Wyo. The deceased, whose death was attributed to a lingering illness, had been receiving medical care for the past four years. The last few months of his life were spent in the Veterans Hospital in Cheyenne.

Concluding services were held at one-thirty o'clock Monday afternoon, November 22nd, from the chapel of the Peet funeral home with Rev. Jacob Nein paying tribute to the deceased. During the services Mrs. Sam Thomas and Miss Phyllis Johns sang as duets, "Beyond the Sunset" and "Going Down the Valley" with Mrs. J. P. Watson accompanying at the organ.

The remains were taken overland to Crawford, Nebr. where they were laid at rest beside his parents in the family plot in the Crawford cemetery. Military rites were accorded the deceased under the auspices of Wieten Dupes Post No.4, American Legion assisted by The Crawford American Legion post. "Chuck" Vaughan and Raleigh Gagstetter presented the American flag to the family, with Gerald Pfeifer sounding taps. The Crawford Post furnished a six-man firing squad, the colorbearers and color guards.

Serving as pallbearers were James Hoblit, Clarence Sides, Walter Schnorenberg, Sr., Andy Owens, Lloyd Coleman and Allen Sheridan, all of Lusk.

Leon R. Roberts was born in Crawford, Nebr., on December 23, 1886. He passed away at the Veterans hospital in Cheyenne, Wyo., on November 19th 1954 at the age of 67 years, 11 months and 27 days.

His boyhood days were spent in Crawford, where he attended school, graduating with the class of 1905 with high class honors. In the fall of 1905, he entered the Bellview College where he attended for two years. In 1912, he started west and located at Buffalo, Wyo. In 1917, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was sent to England and on to France. He came home in the fall of 1920, and returned to Buffalo, where he lived until the past few years, which he has spent mostly with his brother, Rulo, of this city. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Buffalo.

He leaves to mourn his passing, a sister, Mrs. Effie Maple of Long Beach, Calif., a brother, Rulo Roberts of Lusk, three nephews and five nieces, including Leslie Roberts and Mrs. Mary Hoblit both of Lusk. His parents and one brother, Kester Roberts of Richmond, Calif., preceded him in death.

Relatives attending were Mrs. Cy Henry, a niece, of Sturgis, So. Dak., and Mrs. G. L. Thurlow, a cousin of Gering, Nebr. His sister, Mrs. Bert Maple of Long Beach, Calif., who had visited the deceased several months ago was unable to make the trip here at this time to attend the services.

The Lusk Herald
Nov. 25, 1954
Services for Leon Roberts Held Here Monday Afternoon

Leon R. Roberts, 67, brother of Rulo Roberts of Lusk, died in the Veterans' Hospital at Cheyenne Friday morning at 6:30 after a long illness. Death was due to cancer.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Peet Chapel with Rev. Jacob Nein officiating. Mrs. Samuel M. Thomas and Miss Phyllis Johns sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "We Are Going Down the Valley One by One," accompanied by Mrs. J. P. Watson, organist.

Pallbearers were: James Hoblit, Clarence Sides, Walter Schnorenberg, A. L. Owens, Lloyd Coleman and Allen Sheridan.

He was buried with full military honors in the Crawford cemetery with members of the Wieten-Dupes Post No. 4 of the American Legion in charge, assisted by the Veteran Post of the Crawford American Legion. Members of the Wieten-Dupes Post present were Charles Vaughan, Warren Schroefel, Raleigh Gagstetter and Jack Cashman, with Gerald Pfeifer as the bugler. The Veteran Post furnished the color bearers, color squad and firing squad.

Leon R. Roberts was born in Crawford, Dec. 23, 1886, the son of Less and Mary Maxfield Roberts. His boyhood days were spent in Crawford where he attended school and graduated with honors in the high school class off 1905. He attended Bellview College for two years.

In 1912 he started west and located at Buffalo. He was inducted into the army in 1917 and was sent to England and on to France, where he served until the end of the war. Returning in the fall of 1920, he lived in Buffalo until the past few years. Lately, he has lived mostly with his brother Rulo of this city.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Buffalo.

Surviving are the following: a sister, Mrs. Effie Maple of Long Beach, Calif.; a brother, Rulo of Lusk; three nephews and five nieces including Leslie Roberts and Mrs. Mary Hoblit, both of Lusk. His parents and one brother, Kester Roberts of Richmond, Calif., preceded him in death.

Out of town relatives here for the services were: Mrs. Cy Henry of Sturgis, S. Dak., a niece and Mrs. G. L. Thurlow of Gering, Nebr., a cousin.

This gravestone photo was found on nebraskagravestones.org.

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Used with permission from photographer Jim Sheaffer.
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