Frances (Fran) M. Roberts, age 99, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at St. John’s Woodland Campus in Albert Lea, MN with her family by her side. The funeral service for Fran will be at 10:00 A.M. on January 6, 2024 at Bear Lake Concordia Church, Albert Lea, MN. The Pastor Lucas Peters will officiate. Visitation will be held half an hour before the service.

Frances Mae Roberts

Fran was born on October 1, 1924 in Brayton, Iowa to Mike and Clara Petersen. She was baptized and confirmed at Emmons Lutheran Church. She attended school in rural Emmons, MN and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942.

Fran was united in marriage to LeRoy W. Roberts on June 24, 1945 at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, MN. They lived in Albert Lea, moved to Emmons, MN where they lived for 50 years and then moved back to Albert Lea.

Fran was a medical secretary in both Emmons and Albert Lea for the majority of her career. She was famous for her cut-out sugar cookies specific to every holiday and special occasion. She was also well known for her delicious lefsa. Fran started her holiday baking in October in preparation of her enormous holiday goody platter. Fran was not one to sit still, and even then her fingers were busy knitting afghans and baby blankets. She enjoyed spending time with neighbors and friends, listening to music and tending to her flowers. Fran and LeRoy spent many happy times at their cabin on Lake Jefferson where they met their good friends Mary and Lenn Lacher. Their son Nathan thought of Fran and Leroy like grandparents.

Fran is survived by several nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, all of whom she considered her children and grand children and all of whom have loving memories of her. She is also survived by her very special friends Mary and Lenn Lacher.

She is preceded in death by her parents Mike and Clara Petersen; husband LeRoy Roberts; sister Verna Helland; brothers-in-law Omer Helland and Myron Seedorf; brother Robert Petersen; brother-in-law Walter Roberts, sister-in-law Ramona Petersen; brothers Everette and Roscoe Petersen; nephew David Roberts; and sister-in-law Ardus Roberts Jungerson.