Roberta L. "Bert" Starks was born October 8, 1933 to Leonard and Marthenia Narthusan (Foglesong) Flowers on the family farm near Amorita, Oklahoma.  She attended school in Amorita.

On April 1, 1950, Bert married Bobby Joe Starks in Anthony, Kansas, in a double wedding with their best friends, Jim and Ruth Stewart.  This union was blessed with four children.  They raised their family on a farm south of Waldron, Kansas where Bert worked alongside Bobby Joe for many decades.  She excelled at being a homemaker and farm wife.  She also worked at the Kiowa and Cherokee Sale Barns.  Bobby Joe served as District 1 County Commissioner for many years and every Christmas Bert was sure to hold a Christmas party for the District 1 employees and their families.

Bert was a very dedicated wife, mother, and grandma.  Smart, stubborn, loving, impatient, generous, hardworking, and honest were a few of her good qualities.  She always stayed involved with her children and grandchildren in their many activities, especially sporting events where she was the biggest fan in the stands.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and embroidery and made sure every family member was gifted a set of tea towels and most an afghan.  She had a talent for playing the piano by ear.  A favorite pastime of hers was playing train with the train gang.  Bert was a dedicated member of the Rosedale Church for over 70 years, serving the church in many ways.

On December 24, 2023, Bert passed away at Beadles Nursing Home in Alva, Ok at the age of 90.  She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Terry Lee Starks; daughter, Becky Hess LaBrue; and siblings, Wilbur Flowers, Mabel Hodgson, and Leota McFarland Clover.

Bert will be deeply missed by her daughters, Sherry Hess and husband, Edgar, and Peggy Rieger and husband, Rod; 7 grandchildren and spouses: Valerie and Mike Garrison, Melinda and Curt Cloyd, Tammie and Joe Dearing, Shelly and Terry Kane, Brad and Robbie Rieger, Kasey and Brian Waldschmidt, and Kiley and Shane Feely; sister, Imogene Smith; 19 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2023 at the Driftwood Christian Church, Driftwood, Oklahoma with Rod Rieger officiating.  Burial will follow in the Rosedale Cemetery, Manchester, Oklahoma.  The service will be livestreamed to the Driftwood Christian Church Facebook Page.

Friends may view and register from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Bert may be made to the Rosedale Cemetery and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.