Colleen Roberts, 74, of Dillon passed away October 4th, 2022 at Barrett Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. She was surrounded by the family whom she loved the most.
Colleen was born October 27, 1948 to Jess and Murrell Roberts in Dillon, Montana. She had 7 siblings, Ruth, Gertie, Chuck (PeeWee), Pat, Jerry, Tom and Jim. She grew up in Dillon but spent a majority of her teenage years being raised as a true born Butte girl. It is there where she met Bob Wood, whom she married June 13, 1966 in Bonneville County Idaho but later divorced. Out of this marriage came Robert “Larry” Wood and Charles Earl Wood. In addition to raising these wild boys, she played a huge part in raising numerous nieces and nephews as if they were her own, including the Jerri-Lynn Roberts whom she jokingly called “the daughter she never wanted”.
She was well known to the community of Dillon as being the best waitress around. The one who took no crap from anyone, including her own children. She started her career at Skeet’s Café in High School earning a mere 25 cents an hour and later worked at the Truck Inn, Town Pump, Paradise Inn and the Klondike. In fact, while working at the Truck Inn, she met her longtime partner, Mark Oehling, with whom she resided with at time of her death.
Colleen loved John Wayne, baking, making candy, crocheting, drinking her coffee and watching Law & Order. She also loved bologna. She was taken to a 5-star restaurant in Las Vegas and ordered a fried bologna sandwich and was disappointed they didn’t have potato chips. She was a very generous soul whom would help anyone in need. She supported your decisions and choices in life without passing judgement. She encouraged you to follow your dreams and never told you what to do.
Mostly, she loved spending time with her grandchildren Tyrel and Riley Wood, whom she made a life time of memories for. Some of those memories we include to make you smile: She wanted to teach Riley to drive. She let her drive down a dirt road in Victor 2 short miles home from the store. As she was directing her in to the garage, Tyrel started yelling at Riley causing her to hit the gas instead of the brake and the car went through the garage. Well thank the good lord that Mark had a stash of old barn wood as he was able to cosmetically repair the damages. Tyrel remembers her chasing him around with her false teeth, skipping school and watching Price is Right with her and pushing her around Disney Land in her wheelchair!
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Ruth, Gertie, PeeWee, Patrick, and Tom as well as her son Chuck. She is survived by her brothers Jerry and Jim, her son Larry (BeverLee), daughter-in-law Danyella Wood, Grandchildren Tyrel (Alysha) and Riley (Tristen), her life partner, Mark Oehling and numerous nieces and nephews.
As per her wishes, no funeral services will be held. Mark has requested a small gathering to be held at Mac’s Last Cast on a Tuesday evening in honor of all the Tuesdays they frequented there
together over the years. This will be announced at a later date but to be expected in the near future. The family will spread her ashes at her favorite spot at Miner’s Lake in June which will also be announced at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers or donations we the family ask that you contact 4B’s to contribute funds for Mark Oehling so that he may continue to dine at his favorite spot while being surrounded by friends.