Phyllis June Robotham was born March 6, 1924, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Charles and May (Pfund) Masker and passed away Sept. 29, 2022, in Seward at the age of 98 years, 6 months and 23 days.
At an early age Phyllis moved to Epworth Park in Lincoln and lived with her grandparents. She later attended St. Joseph Academy, a boarding school, in Oregon and graduated with the Class of 1941. After graduation she became a civilian contractor with the military. After Phyllis moved back to Nebraska, She met Leonard when a date brought along his friend. Before marriage she and Leonard were employed at Western Electric. On July 3, 1947, Phyllis was united in marriage to Leonard at his parents’ home in rural Seward County, and to this union they were blessed with five children.
Phyllis helped start the Malcolm girls softball team, where she scheduled the games. She also drove a school bus for a few years and was very active in the PTO in Malcolm. While her children were small, Phyllis always had a huge garden. Phyllis took meals to the men in the field during planting and harvesting and on occasion she would milk the cows to help Leonard out.
Leonard and Phyllis enjoyed traveling. Every summer the family went camping in South Dakota and spent a lot of time fishing with her family. They also liked going to Las Vegas with her siblings. The couple attended several Nebraska bowl games with the Heidtbrinks. There were many other travel destinations including Florida, Texas and Canada. Phyllis was on a bowling team for many years. She was a longtime member of the Malcolm United Methodist Church, where she was active with the Women’s Society of Christian Service.
Phyllis was preceded in the death by her father and stepmother, Charles and Elsie Masker; mother and stepfather, May and Chet Fauth; two brothers, Bernard and Don Masker; sister and brother-in-law, Carole and John Duffield; and grandson, John Kildare.
Survivors cherishing her memory include her husband of 75 years, Leonard Robotham, Seward; five children, Evaline Robotham, Pleasant Dale, Raymond Robotham and wife, Cherylynn, Pleasant Dale, Mary Robotham, Omaha, Gene Robotham and wife, Kathy, Pleasant Dale, and Bruce Robotham, Pleasant Dale; eight grandchildren, Jennifer Hoffman and husband, Buzz, Tracy Robotham, Michael Robotham, DeEtta Bumgardner and husband, Troy, Jade Roth and husband, Dan, Hillary Kildare (wife of John), Mark Robotham and wife, Laura, and Scott Robotham and wife, Jessica; 19 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Malcolm United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Nick Martozie officiating. A graveside service and interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Seward Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Malcolm United Methodist Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
