HOISINGTON — Roberta L. Prosser received her angel wings on July 28, 2025, in Hoisington, Kan. Roberta was born on a farm near Claflin on Aug. 26, 1926, to Frank and Louise (Zecha) Miller. Raised in the Catholic faith and traditions of her eastern European heritage. She became a strong woman with determination to exceed. They raised five children on the original Prosser homestead near Odin.
They were proud and happy of the family they created. A lifelong member of the Claflin and Odin area, they moved to Hoisington in 2006. Roberta was known as a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was the Matriarch on both sides of the Miller/Prosser family. Her journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, and unwavering faith in God. She taught her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren and her best friends her secrets to making pies and cherry kolaches.
She graduated from Claflin High School in 1945, however attended her junior year in Wichita, to help her older sister Leona. Roberta worked as a clerk at Buehler’s store in Claflin. She met her one and only Julius and they married Aug. 10, 1948, being the first couple to have their wedding dance in the Odin gymnasium. They spent 61 years together. Julius passed away on Nov. 30, 2009. Roberta became a homemaker and mother, and started work outside the farm as a nursing assistant when CKMC opened. She was on the nursing team to transport patients from St. Rose hospital through the tunnel. She worked at the Redwing Store, Odin Store, Prosser Rodeo Arena, C&K’s in Beaver and finally Dairy Queen for over 20 years.
Roberta had an unwavering commitment to spreading love and kindness to everyone she encountered came natural to her. She had a rare gift of making others smile, and laugh, leaving a lasting impact on all those who crossed her path of life.
She belonged to Holy Family Church in Odin and St. John’s Church in Hoisington, and served as officer in the Odin Altar Society numerous times finally becoming an Honorary member in both Odin and Hoisington. Daughters of Isabella was also on her long list of community service. She loved music, loved to dance and played several instruments and was quite a pitch card player. Julius and Roberta made a handsome couple for 61 years. Those polkas will never be the same.
Roberta is survived by her children, Leonard and Connie Prosser of McPherson, Maurice Prosser and Barb Maier of Iuka, Judy and Ralph Demel of Laughlin, Nev., Michael and Myra Prosser of rural Odin, Kathleen and Curtis Hitschmann of Hoisington and an Honorary son and daughter Leon and Becky Steiner. The family grew to 16 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren. She had over 100 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Julius; two grandsons, Scott and Schon Demel; granddaughter, Riley Prosser; great grandson, Turner; and a loving daughter-in-law, Sally Prosser. She was also preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, William and Martin Miller; her sisters, Leona Leiker, Teresa Dolecheck, Marie Hoss, Doris Smith, Rita Doll; and all her in-laws on both sides of the family. She was the last of a great generation. Thoroughly missed and always cherished. God bless her and her family and all who knew her.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Hoisington, concelebrated by Father Warren Stecklein and Father Meinrad Miller. Interment will be at 2 p.m. in Holy Family Cemetery, Odin, Kan. Visitation will be 1 p.m to 8 p.m. Sunday Aug. 3, with a Vigil at 7 p.m., all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Holy Family Cemetery Fund, Clara Barton Foundation, Holy Family Altar Society, St. John Altar Society, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544. Notices may be viewed and condolences sent at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 31, 2025
