Following high school, Roberta married her sweetheart and World War II veteran, Arthur Johanson, Jr. (Art), whom she met at the Arthur Murray School of Dance in Fort Worth where she gave him dance lessons. It was love at first sight and after only three weeks of dating they married and moved to Chicago so Art could attend the prestigious American Academy of Fine Art. Following his graduation, they returned to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and founded Johanson & Associates where they built a thriving advertising art agency. They were devoted Christians and raised their four children in the Baptist church. Art preceded her in death by 29 years.
Roberta was awarded a full college scholarship which she chose not to use because she wanted to support her husband in his pursuit of becoming a fine artist specializing in western art. She never lost her love for dancing and taught her children many of the various dance steps of her era. She was a stay-at-home mom while her children were growing up and later became a private secretary in the banking industry and ultimately a legal secretary for several attorneys. Roberta and her husband were very active in church, working with GA‘s and RA’s and personally paying for those young girls and boys to fly between Dallas and Fort Worth on a plane, a very unique experience at that time. After her husband’s death she joined First Baptist Church of White Settlement. There she continued her life mission of helping others. She organized a church group for parents of felons to help each of them cope with their individual devastating experiences and ongoing stress. She took older members of her church to Dallas to get them dentures or dental work at her expense so they could have beautiful teeth. She also visited members of her church who were in nursing homes and remained a faithful member of First Baptist Church of White Settlement until her demise. In addition, she contributed to a number of charitable organizations. She was a lovely woman who put everyone else first and won the hearts of workers and residents at the nursing home where she resided for the last three years of her life. She will be missed by so many wonderful friends and loving family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her sisters, JoAnn Able and her husband Roy, and Patsy Waits and her husband Arthur.
She is survived by her oldest son, Craig Johanson and his wife Linda and their daughter, Tanya Johanson and their son, Erik Johanson and his wife Janette, including their 3 children Ryan, Reese and Rayne.
She is also survived by her oldest daughter, Karen Bibby and her husband Russell and their son, Joel Fuller and his son Aydan; and their son Scott Fuller and his wife Mandie and their children Kade Jayse and Ty.
She is also survived by her youngest daughter Barbara Barnes (husband Rick, deceased) and her sons, Nathan Hrabal and Wesley Hrabal and his wife Pam.
She is also survived by her youngest son Richard Johanson (wife Sylvia, deceased) and his daughter Elizabeth Johanson, including her 5 children; his son Andrew Johanson (wife Britiney, deceased); his daughter Rebecca (Johanson) Reich and her husband Greg, including their 3 daughters; his son Jacob Johanson and his wife Beulah including their daughter; and his son Benjamin Johanson and his wife Kelly, including their son.
Ultimately, Roberta departed this world with 4 loving children, 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, along with many cherished friends.
Private committal services will be held at Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park. A public Celebration of Life may be held at a later date.
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