Mom was born in Springville, Utah, on a cold day on February 20, 1933, to Lee H. Bate and Grace Lee Bate. Roberta was their firstborn and given the name of her father’s mother. She was very proud of her name and felt blessed to have the privilege to carry and honor it. When Mama was one year old she and her mother moved to California where they would join her father as he had found work there through the Civilian Conservation Corp. In 1942 a Japanese torpedo was launched onto a beach near where her father, Lee was working. He finished the day, came home and told His wife Grace they were moving back to the Utah mountains where they would be safe. It was a difficult transition for mother, but she loved being closer to family and ended up making many cherished friendships that continue today. Mom graduated from Springville High School at the age of 17. She played the Saxophone in the band and cherished an experience where the SHS band played at the Springville Train Station for President Harry S. Truman when he came to town. Mom was excellent at shorthand, typing and had beautiful handwriting. She took those skills and went to Salt Lake to attend LDS Business College.

When Mom was in high school, she was nominated as the Queen of the Gold and Green Ball and as an initiation into a girl’s club she was told she had to ask Gordon Smith to be her King. Nervously she called up this young man whom she thought was so handsome and a year older in school and she asked, he agreed and became her forever king. Mama said he was quite shy at the dance, but they then began dating and enjoyed getting to know each other. When mom was in her first semester of college, Daddy drove up to see her and asked if they shouldn’t get married, as he was in the National Guard and some of the units were being called up to serve in the Korean War. They were married in the Manti Temple on August 14, 1950. They continued their lives together in Springville where they raised two daughters and four sons.

Mother was extremely service-oriented and a hard worker. She began serving family, friends and neighbors at a young age and continued to do so until just weeks before her passing. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she served twice as a Relief Society President, as Stake Scout leader, helped to write lesson manuals for the 11-12-year-olds at Church Headquarters, she did Scout presentations at the Primary Conference which correlated with General Conference, and served in many other capacities in the Church. Mama also served on the Springville Progress Committee while dad was on the city council. She worked as a youth picking cherries, corn and raspberries and then as an usher at the movie theater. She worked in the office for Thorne Construction Co. as a newlywed. Our sweet mom worked at Grant Elementary in several positions for twenty-nine years. Her most cherished position, as well as where she worked most of those years, was as the Media Specialist (librarian) for which the faculty nominated her for State Media Tech of the Year. She was able to go to the State Capital to receive her award. She has had a huge impact on the lives of the students as well as the faculty, over the years.

Mom was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and had a deep love of family history, family stories and genealogy. She could sit for hours and share her knowledge about her family with anyone who would listen and engage. Family was mother’s greatest accomplishment. There were many years that dad was so busy with school and church activities that mom was basically on her own. It wasn’t easy and we were an active, rambunctious bunch. Her wooden spoon and breadboard kept us in some semblance of control. She supported us, cried and laughed with us, helped how and where she could and she loved us all with the fierceness of a lioness.

Roberta was preceded in death by her parents Lee and Grace Bate, Gordon her eternal sweetheart, daughter-in-law Kari Smith, grandson Trevyn Smith, son-in-law Art Lujan and grandson-in-law Tim Boyce. Mama is survived by her sister Bonnie Dalton, brother Lee ‘Bud’ Bate, children Trent (Jani), Valorie Lujan (Chris), Peggy Strong (Ernie), Kelly, Reed (Dinesh) and Todd (Amy), thirty-two grandchildren, fifty-four great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Our visits with Grandma Berta will be missed immensely by each of us. Your crazy adventures and stories of all the things we thought you should NOT be doing in your aging years, are memories that will forever be cherished in our hearts. Your example of unconditional love, your jokes and wit, your raspberry jam and garden produce, acceptance for who and what we are, and the depth of love you had for our Savior and belief in His eternal plan are all emblazoned in our hearts. You are a remarkable and one-of-a-kind matriarch, and we are blessed to be yours. We are comforted to know your pain is gone and you are our angel in heaven cheering us on and watching over us. Until you stand on the porch and call us home with that memorable ‘Tarzan-ish’ call of yours, we’ll be here needing your watchful care. Hugs, kisses and so much love, your rowdy Smith bunch.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you help someone in need or take a friend to lunch.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 30, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the LDS Chapel on 645 East 245 South, Springville, UT. Viewings will be held Sunday, March 29 from 6-8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary on 211 East 200 South, Springville, UT and Monday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.

Funeral Services are under the direction of Wheeler & Sundberg Funeral Home of Springville, 801-489-6021. Condolences and full life story can be seen and sent at wheelermortuaries.com.