Roberta Maxine Olson

Roberta Maxine Miller Beck Olson, formerly of Santa Barbara, California, passed away on September 27, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. She was surrounded by her granddaughters when she "left the planet" peacefully. She was 87. This obituary contains many of Roberta's own words.

Roberta was born on October 16, 1937, in Santa Barbara, California to Max Robert Miller and Arabella Hayward Miller. All family members have been sealed to each other in the Los Angeles Temple and the Spokane, Washington Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Roberta received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Northridge, and her Master of Arts from University of Idaho. She taught in the North Idaho school system and opened her own art school in Coeur d'Alene for homeschoolers. ROBERTA LOVED HER LIFE. She taught many lessons in art, sewing, and CLOWNING to those lucky enough to know her.

In addition to being an avid and gifted quilter, she swam, danced, hiked, and wrote letters to all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always with music and drawing to encourage the family to be students. She played the harp and served as a choir director in her church. Her last responsibility was making sure the sisters in the Ward were able to attend church as a group, and do "endowment" sessions in the Spokane Temple in Washington.

Roberta, also, had a particular affinity for the history of Southern California. As printmaker and watercolorist, she focused on historical landmarks of the Las Virgenes area, including the Calabasas Schoolhouse, the Reyes Adobe, Morrison Ranch, and Scottie's Station while she served as president of the Thousand Oaks Art Association.

In Southern California or North Idaho, Roberta was always an active and eager participant in her community. She returned to Southern California in 2021, where she lived the remainder of her life near her oldest granddaughter and great-grandchildren.

Roberta was predeceased by stillborn twins; her older brothers, Wendall (Phyllis) and Charles (Billie Kay, and Collette) Miller; "Mr. Wonderful", her husband of 31 years, Reed Gardner Olson; and her grandson-in-law, Steven Long. She is survived by two sons, Brian (Susan) Beck in California, and Bruce (Patty) Beck in Colorado and Mexico; five grandchildren, Stephanie, Charli ("Holly Noelle"), Benjamin, Max, and Winston; three great-grandchildren, Tyson, Jules, and Billie; her dearest friend Kristin O'Dell and her children, Alex and Adam; and many nieces and nephews across the Pacific Northwest, Utah, and Southern California. Roberta rests next to Reed at the West Jordan City Cemetery in Utah waiting to be made whole and robust by the return of the Savior.