Roberta J. Freeman

Roberta Jo (Ball) Freeman, age 61, passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, August 15, 2025, at Sanford Medical Center on Broadway in Fargo, North Dakota. She was born in Fosston, Minnesota, on February 17, 1964, to Robert and Lois Ball. As the youngest of five children on the family farm in Lengby, Roberta learned the meaning of hard work at an early age. She enjoyed competing in 4-H and Speech, and that spirit of competition continued through her adult life. She graduated from Fosston High School in 1982 before earning a bachelor’s and two Masters degrees in English, Communication, and Education from Bemidji State University and North Dakota State University. She then taught for five years at Red Lake High School in Red Lake, MN. Her daughter Hannah was born in 1991 as Roberta continued to teach, learn, and build lasting ties with friends, colleagues, and former students in Bemidji.

Roberta’s work then brought her to Fergus Falls, Minnesota. She served as a high school English and Speech teacher/Speech Coach at Fergus Falls High School before beginning her career as a college instructor at Minnesota State in Fergus Falls. Throughout her teaching career, Roberta encouraged, advised, and mentored countless young writers, speakers, and educators. A deep commitment to multicultural education, equality, and access for all led her to champion programs that brought people together as one community. Roberta also led Study Abroad programs, introducing students to international travel and engagement. She was recognized as an exceptional teacher and mentor. Roberta believed every student had a voice, a narrative, and she created a safe supportive environment to ensure every student was seen and heard. Her service and leadership extended beyond her home campus through judging State speech and theater contests, serving as a SEED program facilitator, and taking on projects within and beyond the college system’s state-wide teaching and learning initiatives. Her generosity knew no bounds, often putting the needs of others before her own. Throughout her career, Roberta continued to measure success not by what she accomplished, but what she could help others accomplish.

In 2005 she married Paul Freeman, of Starbuck, Minnesota, expanding from a family of two (Roberta and Hannah) to seven (Paul and his four daughters). Roberta supported Paul’s commitment to a successful farm enterprise, and Paul shared her love of books, rural and farm life, theater, music, travel, and the Minnesota Vikings. At home, she loved reading, writing poetry, and journaling her life experiences. She delighted in joining her grandson to build with Legos, color, or shape play dough, saying, “we should all give ourselves the childhood we deserve.” Together Paul and Roberta saw the world, including travel through Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Chile, and Thailand. She recently retired from teaching due to health issues and a desire to enjoy life with her beloved “MBA farmer” husband, grandson, and family.

Roberta is survived by her husband Paul, daughter Hannah (Corey) Egersdorf of Moorhead, and stepdaughters Therese (Mark) Meyer of Little Falls, Ashlei (Chad) Wessels of Eden Prairie, Allie (Dan), and Maggie (Glenna) Colerider-Krugh of Minneapolis. Additional family members include her father, Robert Ball, and sisters Debbie (Ernie) Moen and Judy (Paul) Ophus of Fosston. She is also survived by grandchildren Oliver Egersdorf-Boyum, Brady and Preston Meyer, Everett and Lauren Wessels, and Braden, Bentley and Kaleb Gohman (plus Kaleb’s daughter, Maryann) and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Ball, brother, Randy Ball, sister Peggy Nelson, and her nephew, Bobby Ball.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 23, at the United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls. Soup will be on from 1:00 to 4:00 with prayers at 2:00 and stories before and long after. Family and friends are encouraged gather for fellowship to remember and celebrate the life of wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, and phenomenal woman, Roberta Freeman.