Roberta Faye "Bert" (Colle) Buchanan

Roberta Faye (Colle) Buchanan, of Little River, Kansas, passed away on July 9, 2024, at Rice County District Hospital in Lyons, Kansas. Roberta was born on September 2, 1926, to Henry and Lena (Hauschild) Colle. She grew up in the Saxman area, graduated from Little River High school in 1944, then attended nursing training at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Hutchinson. She then served in the Cadet Nurse Corps. Roberta married Guy Buchanan at the Midland Community Church in rural Sterling on October 17, 1948. She is survived by three sons: Joe Buchanan (and wife Rita) of Council Grove, Rex Buchanan (and wife Mindy James) of Lawrence, and Ted Buchanan (and wife Laura) of Lubbock, Texas, along with six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by Guy Buchanan and daughter Sue Buchanan of Ellsworth, her three brothers (Audry, Calvin, and Homer), and granddaughter Katie Buchanan Gant. Roberta was known in the Colle family as “Bertie,” and as Bert to nearly everyone else. She spent much of her life taking care of other people. She was a nurse at the Hoffman Hospital in Little River and a private nurse for many years, all while raising children, supporting the Buchanan family farming operation, and later working as a partner in Little River Realty. She was a long-time, devoted member of the Congregational Church in Little River. She loved singing and listening to music. She loved to travel and meet people. She was proud of her family and made it a point to ask about everyone else’s family. She made a mean butterscotch pie. She was, more than anything, joyful and resilient in the face of life’s challenges. The family expresses its deepest gratitude to the staff of the Rice County District Hospital for the care and kindness they showed Roberta in the two years she made her home there. The memorial service for Roberta will be held at the Congregational Church in Little River at 10 a.m., July 13, 2024, with burial to follow at Bean Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Little River Congregational Church in care of Birzer Funeral Home, 214 West Ave. S., Lyons, KS. 67554.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.