Oliver R Roberg

Oliver Raymond Roberg was born on December 23, 1920 in Paynesville, Minnesota to Oluf and Maime (Johnson) Roberg. He died in Barstow, California, on the 20th of September, 2017, and will be interred next to his wife, Genevieve (Genny) Roberg, at Montecito Memorial Park in Loma Linda, California. Genny was laid to rest on December 11, 2000.

Oliver was married to Genny for 52 years and they lived in San Bernardino, California. He is survived by his children, John Roberg (Elaine), Sharon Fann (Ernie), Darla Guess (Rich), Greg Roberg (Mona), and Cindy Britton (Richard), thirteen grandchildren – Stacy Waters (Victor), David Roberg (Jennifer), Jonathan Roberg (Carrie), Eric Seat (Lorraine), Matt Seat (Carrie), Jennifer Nowak (Stan), Michael Guess, Mandy Woodman (Kasey), Travis Roberg (Mallory), Kristen Rutherford (Logan), Alyssa Laugsand (Erik), and Jason Britton (Laurel); 21 great grandchildren – Blake Waters, Allison Waters, Amanda Roberg, Sadie Roberg, Talon Roberg, Aaron Seat, Deidra Seat, Amberly Seat, Tyler Seat, Dylan Seat, Shelbi Seat, Wyatt Seat, Madison Roberg, Ethan Roberg, Morgan Roberg, Keelee Rutherford, Carson Rutherford, Everett Laugsand, Oliver Laugsand, Landon Britton and Jaxon Britton. One great-great grandson – Madden Oliver Royal. Oliver is also survived by three brothers, Russell (Rachel), Norm, and LaVerne (Eunice). He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister Ethel Barker, and brothers Clarence (Larry), Melvin and Earl.

Oliver attended country schools in Paynesville, Minnesota and attended one year of high school. He then wandered East and worked on farms up until he bought his first car for $100, a 1930 Model A and then headed back to Minnesota. He again worked on farms for two more years from 1938 to 1940. He and his brother Russell decided to leave for California with just a few cents in their pockets. Broke and hungry they ended up at their brother Melvin’s in Los Angeles and worked at odd jobs until he headed to Iowa and then back again to California. He got in line to be drafted in 1942.

Oliver entered into the U.S. Army in Sacramento, California on December 10, 1942 and then proceeded to Presidio, San Francisco, California for induction. He was sent to Fort Campbell, Kentucky for training. Infantry, Company A, 752nd Tank Battalion, 1st Platoon. He served in North Africa and Italy. Campaigns: Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Apennines, PO Valley. Good Conduct Medal, 2 Purple Hearts, Presidential Citation (for most consecutive days in combat of any unit, 315 days), 4 service bars, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. Technician 4th grade. He was discharged on November 19, 1945 at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.

After the service, Oliver worked as a truck driver and met Genny in a café in Fontana, California where she worked as a waitress. He went to work for Lyle Brothers and drove a skip loader for two years. After a brief move to Wisconsin, the family moved back to California and he joined the Operating Engineers Union in 1950. He went on to drive a crane for two years then ended up in San Bernardino, California to work for Bill Lyle for one year. He went on to work for Low and Watson for 11 years driving the blade working on the freeway between Barstow and Victorville. He worked for Kassler, Yeager, and AJ Construction.

After retiring he began wandering again, traveling all over the states with Genny. After her passing he traveled all around with his brothers and his grandson’s. He loved to go to auctions, restore antique furniture, and garden. He would also continue to travel to Paynesville, Minnesota just about every year for the Roberg family reunion in July. Later in years, he traveled back to Italy twice. He loved cars and owned many including a Model A, Kaiser, Ford Mustang, Monte Carlo, and a couple of traveling vans.

Oliver was a member of Central Christian Church in San Bernardino for about 25 years where he served as Deacon and maintenance man, and made many trips to the American Indian Christian Mission in Show Low, Arizona, donating clothes, helping to put in a new sewer system for the school, and sponsoring many children in boarding school and summer camp. He moved to Barstow in 2006, and at age 86 was still able to build a workshop, and use his tractor. During the warmer months he traveled to visit family in California, Oregon, Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota. He was still driving and traveling in his van at age 93.