Roberta Jeanne Benson Wambolt Obituary (1931 - 2021)

Roberta Jeanne Benson Wambolt, age 90 of Star, ID, passed away on October 13, 2021. Bobbi was born on February 27, 1931 in Rifle, CO. She was the eldest child of Charles (Charlie) Benson, a cattle rancher, and Ruth Funk Benson, a schoolteacher, of Parachute (Grand Valley), CO and was raised on the Benson cattle ranch on Parachute Creek. This necessitated working hard from a young age as she was her dad's right hand man. She began pushing cows when she was 4 years old and became an accomplished horsewoman. She made handling difficult horses and driving a team look easy. She said that as she grew up, horses were her best friends, especially her horse Cricket. The Benson home was filled with love, laughter and music. She said most days ended with the family laughing at the mishaps and close calls of the day. There Bobbi learned to face adversity cheerfully. Their love of music carried over into the community and they often performed together. Bobbi was a resident of Parachute for most of her life. She attended the Granlee School as a young child and graduated from Grand Valley High School. She attended Colorado State University, majoring in Home Economics. Bobbi was working as a telephone operator when she met Marvin Wambolt. They married in June of 1952. They lived in Grand Valley for several years, then in Smith, NV and Denver, CO before returning to Grand Valley where they operated the Grand Valley Lumber and Supply. Bobbi also worked for the US Postal Service and later baked for and ran a local donut shop. She was a talented seamstress and provided alterations, down jackets and vests and many, many cheerleading uniforms to the community at large and sewed most of her daughters' clothing. Bobbi was a member of and regularly attended the Grand Valley United Methodist Church. She was an active member of the Grand Valley Home Culture Club. She enjoyed entering baked goods in the Garfield County Fair and was renowned for her angel food cakes with orange frosting. She and Marvin purchased season tickets to the Denver Broncos when the team originated in 1960 and she remained a lifelong fan. Their home was a gathering place for many occasions and their annual Christmas Party was legendary. Bobbi was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 37 and supported many others who were also facing the challenges of auto-immune disease. Bobbi was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Wambolt; her partner Al Bailey; and her sister Pamela Benson McClung Brock. She is survived by her children: Shell (Steve) Kammer of Chandler, AZ, Charlie (Linda) Wambolt of Star, ID and Maggie Knight of Parachute, CO; her siblings: Marge Lange, Charline Allen, Cade (Vicki) Benson, Helen (Bob) Arnett and Greg Benson; grandchildren: Jason Kammer (Lucia), Katie Bitowf (Chris), Meredith Armstrong (Sean), Charlee Wambolt, Cadee Wambolt, Chuck Knight and Pam Knight; three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Memorial services will be held on October 30 at 1pm at the Battlement Mesa Fire Protection District, 0124 Stone Quarry Road, Parachute, Colorado, 81635. Bobbi loved wildlife and most recently enjoyed watching the birds visiting the bird feeder outside of her window. The family would love to know friends are carrying on this tradition with hummingbird and other bird feeders. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Pam Brock Scholarship; https://www.grandvalleyeducationalfoundation.org.