March 25, 1935 — July 8, 2024
Helen Roberti passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 8, 2024, at 89. She was a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed.
Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 58 years, Elmer Roberti, who passed away in 2012; her parents, Charlie and Beulah Wily; her father and mother-in-law, Alfred and Josephine Roberti; brothers, Charles and Mervyn Wily; sister, Ada Jean Lawson; sister-in-law, Elia Roberti Miles; and her daughter-in-law, Rose Roberti. She is survived by her sons Jim (Kathy) Roberti, Rick (Carolyn) Roberti, Dave (Jane) Roberti, and her “adopted” son Rodney (Sandy) Silva; and sisters Clarice Phillips and Connie Wiest and their families. Also known as “Grammy,” Helen leaves behind grandchildren Jenny (Jay) Gant, Ben (Samantha) Roberti, Weston Roberti, Katie Roberti, and Kristin Roberti. Grammy’s quiver was full of seven great-grandchildren, including Emmett, Ella, and Eden Gant, as well as Giovanni, Luna, Emilia, and Natalia Roberti.
During the Great Depression, Helen’s parents lost their cows and small dairy farm to foreclosure in Fallon, Nev. When her dad was fortunate to get a night-shift job at the lumber mill in Loyalton, the family moved to Sierra Valley, and Helen was born in Loyalton in 1935. For a few years, they lived in town, but her dad never stopped being a farmer. When an old, run-down ranch was for sale, they somehow came up with enough money to take it over. Only a mile from Loyalton, Helen loved growing up on the ranch. She and her sisters often walked home from school down the old B&L railroad tracks or took a shortcut through a field in the late fall. Although money was tight, Helen got her first horse at 14. She spent hours riding up Staverville Creek to Castle Rock, exploring and dreaming.
Even though Helen wanted to be riding her horse, she got along quite well in high school and loved many of her teachers. She was in the band and choir and was also part of a nurse’s aide program through the school; she worked at the new Loyalton Hospital, which she greatly enjoyed. After graduation in 1953, she went on to nurses training in Santa Rosa the following fall. However, a special man in Sierra Valley caught her attention during the summer months, enough so that she left her dream of being a nurse and became a farmer’s wife. Helen’s dad told her she could marry anyone if their last name didn’t end with the letters A, I, or O. Her family is glad she didn’t listen to that advice. On September 4, 1954, Helen married Elmer Roberti at a ceremony that began at 8:00 PM, which gave dairy farmers plenty of time to get their cows milked. In the following years, they welcomed three boys, Jimmy, Ricky, and Davy (as Helen lovingly called them), who still live and work on the ranch today.
As a lifelong Sierra Valley resident, Helen served in many different organizations. She was secretary of the Plumas-Sierra County Farm Bureau for over 50 years. In 2014, Assemblymember Brian Dahle named her Woman of the Year in California District 1 for her dedication and passion for agriculture. She was also quite a historian. For many years, she served on the governing board of the Plumas County Museum and was a member of the Sierra County Historical Society. Helen loved being outdoors on the ranch, cutting hay on a swather, or working cows in the corral. She enjoyed gardening and keeping her yard filled with beautiful flower beds. Helen fixed lunch for the family and countless employees who worked putting up hay in the summer. Nothing seemed to please her more than riding her horse (Ramie) as the Roberti family drove cattle to the summer pasture next to Lake Davis with their good friends, the Ramellis. She highly valued that special time of her life.
Helen’s faith in Jesus was the cornerstone of her life, guiding her actions and decisions. She was a good friend to many and always looked for ways to offer help to people who were lonely or in need. Helen baked thousands of yeast rolls and hundreds of pies for her family and friends, and she was especially pleased to help bring in hundreds of dollars when she donated her pies for local benefit auctions. Years ago, Loyalton Rotarians also enjoyed her cooking when she served them lunch once every month at the Loyalton Community Church.
Loyalton and the Sierra Valley never grew old to Helen. In her later years, she loved being able to drive herself into town to get a haircut from Debbie, take her car to be serviced at White’s, and get what she needed from her friends at the hardware store. She also enjoyed being able to pick up her own prescriptions and go to the bank in Portola. When she ran out of Swiss cheese for her polenta, she would make a trip to Chilcoot to Goodwin’s General Store. She often said, “I sure love my little town.” Over the years, she also loved going into Loyalton to watch her grandchildren play sports, and this past spring, she even got to watch her great-grandson, Emmett, play Little League baseball.
Over the last ten years or so on the ranch, one of Helen’s favorite things to do was to sit at her big window in the kitchen, read on her iPad, and watch the “goings on” of the day. She also enjoyed sitting in her front yard at her “cattle trough” during the cool of the day. With help from her family, Helen converted the trough to a fish tank for her goldfish, and often, at the end of the day, family and friends would join Helen for a pleasant visit around the trough. If asked, Helen was never afraid to tell you what she thought about an issue, and with quiet wisdom, she often offered a good solution to many of life’s challenges. Most importantly, Helen loved the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, and mind, and she frequently told her family that she was most blessed among women.
Helen’s celebration of life service will be held at the Sierra Valley Grange Hall at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 12, 2024. In her memory, donations may be made to either of these organizations, both of which were an important part of her life for many years:
Community Church of Loyalton
PO Box 326
Loyalton, CA 96118
Sierra Valley Grange
PO Box 15
Vinton, CA 96135