Herbert Williams Robson

Herbert William Robson was taken home to Heaven on September 20, 2016.
Herb was born April 23, 1913 on his family farm 2miles east of Orchard, Nebraska. He was the oldest of two children born to James W. and Edith Smyth Robson.
When Herb was 15 years old, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa where Herb attended and graduated from Central High School (the Castle on the Hill). In 1933 he met Iona Belle Jensen on a blind date. She was the love of his life! They were married in 1933 and shared many years together until Iona’s passing in 1999. The Lord blessed them with two children, a son, Wendell Lee born in 1934, and a daughter, Phyllis Fern in 1935.
In 1940, the family moved to Butte, Montana, where Herb had secured employment as a photographer with the Fred Williams Photo Studio. After 6 months in Butte, the family moved to Great Falls, Montana where Herb had been sent to open a branch of the Butte Studio. When World War II started, this business was temporarily suspended.
In September of 1942, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where Herb secured employment as a locomotive fireman and later a locomotive engineer for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. After arriving in Salt Lake, Herb and Iona placed their children in St. John’s Lutheran School. Their family became members of St. John’s. In 1953 Herb left the D&RG to accept employment with the Kennecott Copper Co. as a locomotive engineer for their Ore Haulage Department. He retired from Kennecott in 1978.
After retirement, Herb and Iona moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to spend time with daughter Phyllis’ family and so that he could attend college classes which were offered free to retired people. He didn’t want to get a degree, he just wanted to study classes that interested him like Spanish and History. He had missed going to college after high school because it was the Great Depression and there was no money in the family for college.
Herb and Iona moved back to Salt Lake a year later as Iona had missed her friends and activities there. They joined Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bountiful and became very active members there. Herb served as an Elder and also read the Bible scripture lessons in worship services. After Iona passed away, Herb sold their house and he moved to an independent living center in Murray which was close to his grandson Wendell Loyd Robson’s family. He became an active member of Christ Lutheran Church and School in Murray at that time.
In 2009, Herb moved to Mesa, Arizona close to where his son Wendell Lee Robson’s family lived along with Granddaughter Kathryn Robson Speedling’s family, and grandson Wendell Loyd Robson’s family. When grandson Wendell moved to Kingsville, Maryland in 2013 to become principal of St. Paul’s Lutheran School there, Herb moved with them and became a part of their family. Wendell’s wife Dawn became Herb’s daily caregiver. Herb was grateful to Wendell, Dawn, and Amy Robson and also to Pastor Mike Wollman of St. Paul’s Lutheran for his spiritual care.
Herb Robson is survived by his sister Emmaruth Robson Keyser of Salt Lake City, UT; his son Wendell Lee (Frances)Robson of Sun Lakes, AZ; six grandchildren – Vicky Snedegar (Bill) Simons of Las Vegas NV, Wendell Loyd (Dawn) Robson of Kingsville, MD, Beth Robson(Tom)Gerrard of Murray, UT, Iona Snedegar (Ron) Angst of Boulder City, NV, Kathryn Robson (Gerald) Speedling of Mesa, AZ; Karl (Karen)Snedegar of Las Vegas, NV; nine great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Iona, his daughter Phyllis Robson Snedegar, his son-in-law Karl Snedeger, and granddaughter Pauline Robson.
Herb was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and School in Murray, Utah and an associate member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Kingsville, Maryland. Viewing and graveside service will be held at Redwood Memorial Estates in Taylorsville, Utah on September 24th, 2016. Viewing at Noon followed by graveside service at 1:00 p.m. officiated by Pastor Merlyn Wagner. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Lutheran School – 240 E. 5600 S. Murray, UT 84107 or St. Paul’s Lutheran School – 12022 Jerusalem Rd. Kingsville, MD 21087.
Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone be Glory!
Service Information
Viewing September 24, 2016 at 12:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah





Graveside Service
September 24, 2016 at 1:00 PM
6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah