Carol Roberts Obituary

Roberts
Carol Lavonne
(Olson) Roberts
March 21, 1929
April 16, 2022

Carol Lavonne (Olson) Roberts completed her earthly journey on April 16, 2022. Life began in Lynch, Nebraska, on March 21, 1929, the youngest child of two born to David and Thelma (Bartley) Olson. She spent the first twenty years of her life in South Dakota on her parent's farm.
Carol attended a small rural school until 7th grade and graduated from Fairfax High School (South Dakota) in 1946. Carol attended Southern State Normal School and Sioux Falls College and taught rural school for two years before marrying Vern Ekerholm in 1949. They had three children, Steven, Ruth, and Elaine. The family moved several times because Vern was a minister, serving in Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado in 1969. In Colorado, they served the Community Congregational Church in Manitou Springs. Carol moved to Illinois and South Dakota, returning to Manitou Springs in 1973.
In 1984 Carol married Harold Roberts, but their happiness was short-lived; Harold died in 1985.
Carol was employed by the ITU Negotiated Pension Plan for 22 years and retired in 1995.
She has been active in the Community Congregation Church in Manitou Springs, singing in the choir and serving on various committees. Carol became a P.E.O. while living in Custer, South Dakota, and continued in Chapter K in Manitou Springs. She held several offices, and her most famous and cherished title of "The Nut Lady."
Carol was a talented seamstress, loved gardening, making beautiful quilts, and called herself a frustrated decorator. So, neighbors were not surprised to see Carol unloading large rocks and other landscaping materials from her little red car.
Carol felt very fortunate to have friends she could travel with to Mexico, Guatemala, England, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Germany.
For the last two and a half years, Carol resided at Bonaventure of Colorado Springs. She was very grateful for the kind staff and many friends.
Carol is survived by her three children: Steven (Barbara Newton) Ekerholm, Ruth Diamond, and Elaine (Jay) Pretzer. Also, seven grandchildren: Kimberly, Katie, Stefanie, Samantha, David, Alexandria, and Douglas. And nine great-grandchildren.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her brother (Leonard); Harold Roberts; Vern Ekerholm; Sherry Ekerholm (daughter-in-law); Stephen Diamond (son-in-law).
A memorial service followed by a reception including a light lunch on April 29, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Community Congregational Church of Manitou Springs, 103 Pawnee Ave., Manitou Springs, CO.