Roberta J. Lute

Roberta Jean Lute, age 84 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel. Funeral Services will be on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Laurel with the Rev. Patrick Broz officiating.  Burial will be at the Laurel Cemetery in Laurel, NE.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, at church, from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 10:30 a.m. You may watch a livestream of the funeral by going to www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel. Pallbearers will be Samantha Olsen, Mallorie Koch, Nate Granquist, Sydnei Olsen, Marissa Lute, Cassie Granquist, Sadie Lute, and Zander Lute. Roberta Jean was born on July 13, 1937 to Ward and Velda (Roberts) Wilcox on a farm Northeast of Meadow Grove, Nebraska.  She was baptized in the Madison United Methodist Church in 1937. She attended elementary school in Madison country schools near Meadow Grove, Madison, and Norfolk.  She graduated from Norfolk High School in 1955 with her sister, Delores Wilcox.  She attended Norfolk Junior College and taught 3 years in Madison County. One night on a blind date at the Wayne County Fair, Roberta met her lifelong partner, Gary Lee Lute.  They were married on June 14^th, 1959 at the Fairview United Methodist Church in the country near Madison, Nebraska. Gary and Roberta started their married life on a farm 5 miles south of Laurel.  Roberta taught 2 years at District 76 in Cedar County.  In 1962, they moved to a farm 3 miles west of Laurel where they lived for 43 years while raising their 4 children.  Roberta dedicated most of her married life to raising her family and helping Gary on the farm.  She enjoyed her large garden, canning produce, and making sure meals were always prepared. In 2004, Gary and Roberta moved to their home in Laurel She was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Church in Laurel for over 50 years.  She was a member of the Laurel United Methodist Women, sang in the choir, was a Sunday school teacher, and a member of the Homebuilders Group.  She was an active member of the Laurel Farmette’s Extension Club and the E.L.T. Club.  She was also a Boy Scout leader.  She enjoyed scrapbooking, painting pictures, crafts, and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and activities. She is survived by her husband, Gary of 62 years, four children Doug Lute of Randolph, Nancy (Joe) Olsen of Harrisburg, South Dakota, Jean Granquist and Mark and Misti Lute of Laurel.  Also survived by 8 grandchildren, Sami and Sydnei Olsen, Mallorie (Chad) Koch, Nate Granquist (Kayla Skogebo), Marissa Lute, Cassie Granquist and Sadie and Zander Lute.  She also has 3 great grandchildren, Crew, Kella, and Kenlee Koch, one sister Delores Wilcox of Laurel and one brother, Rodney (Jean) Wilcox of McCalla, Alabama, sisters- in- law Carol (Borge) Kastrup, Valieda Burns, and Diane (Danny) Wueben. She is preceded in death by twin sons, Wayne and Dwayne; son-in-law, Mike Granquist; sister, Evelyn Fuller; sister -in-law Penny Wilcox; and brother-in-law, Gene Burns.