Roberta Jeanne Banjoff, 100, died at Highland Park Care Center May 30, 2017.
Roberta was born Jan 7, 1917, to Cecile Pearl (Weibling) and Robert Albert Cook at Alliance NE, the oldest of their four children. Roberta’s father, Robert Cook, was born in Oakland, Maryland, the day the Civil War began. His father died in the war. When Robert was 17 he drove a team and came by himself to Shelton, Nebraska. In 1888 he came to Alliance and filed on a homestead and tree claim. He and friends built a sod house fifteen miles northeast of Alliance. He later sold the place to the Krause Ranch and moved to Lakeside. When Mr. Cook came to Alliance he said there were no trees in the town.
Mr. Cook became manager of the Lakeside Ranch Company and managed it for 25 years. He married Pearl Weibling on November 15, 1915. To this union four children were born-Roberta, Priscella, Paula June, and Peter. The Cooks resided in Lakeside until the fall of 1931 when he bought the Keegan farm 2 ½ miles east and north of Alliance. He had taken most of his money out of the bank to purchase the farm. Two weeks later the bank failed and he lost the rest of his savings. Roberta said times were tough on the farm. They had neither electricity nor running water. They milked cows, sold cream and eggs and ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Roberta graduated from Alliance High in 1935 and married Michael Banjoff on July 15, 1935. To this union two children were born, Beverly Anne and Micki Jeanne. Michael and Roberta owned bakeries in Custer, SD and Rushville, NE. In 1950 they moved to Alliance for good. Michael worked at both the DeeLite and Schad’s Bakery and eventually bought the bakery. Michael died of cancer on July 29, 1974. Roberta and Michael enjoyed fishing, dancing, and gardening and Roberta continued these activities after Michael’s death. She raised a big garden, went fishing in the Sand hills with widow Naomi Barrows, and volunteered at the dances held at the nursing homes. Roberta was an animal lover and had cats throughout her life.
Roberta was a lifelong member of the Alliance Presbyterian Church and a fifty plus member of the Royal Neighbors of America where she was the local recorder. After Michael died she worked at the Day Care until retirement and then volunteered at the Knight Museum and at the two nursing homes.
Roberta was preceded in death by her daughter Beverly Anne Coleman and her brother Peter and sister Priscella.
She is survived by her daughter Micki (John) Moore of Lead, SO., her son-in- law William G. Coleman of Alliance and grandchildren, Randal Coleman, Kathryn (Rick) Wayman, and William R. (Jan) Coleman. She is survived by eight great children, Derek, Kyle, John Paul, and Michael Coleman, Paige LeDoux, Callan Wayman, Jenny Exline, and Katie Ashley and her great-great grandchildren, Creighton and Addie Coleman, Molly Exline, and Tyler Ashley. Her sister Paula June England of Denver, CO., also survives.
Funeral services will be Monday, June 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jay Kim officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, June 4 from 1-5 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to the Presbyterian Church or an animal shelter.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.