Roberta Fern DeForest of Springfield peacefully passed away Thursday, January 10, 2013 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Fern, the youngest of a large family, was born and raised on farms near Woodbine, Iowa. After graduating from Woodbine Normal School in 1942, she taught K-8 in one room country schools for two years before marrying Max DeForest, also from Woodbine. As he served in combat during WW II, she took a Civil Service job in Omaha, Nebraska. Following the war, they relocated numerous times due to Max's work, spending 14 years in Bensenville, Illinois while raising their three children. In 1971 they purchased Race Bros. Farm Supply and moved to Springfield, MO. Fern loved deeply with humility, compassion, kindness, grace and generosity, always seeing the good in others and quick to extend her heart and home to all. She and Max were a devoted team in all areas of life, together enjoying family, work, church, community activities and travel. She loved life stories, developed rich records of family history, and inspired a love of learning. Fern is preceded in death by her parents, Don and Lilah Henderson and her seven siblings. She is survived by her husband of over 68 years, Max DeForest, her son Roger (Pam) DeForest of Springfield, daughter Susan (Thom) Olmstead of Mesa, AZ, and son Craig (Lori) of Springfield, grandsons Ryan (Julie) Olmstead of Mesa, AZ, Brian DeForest of Monett, Kenny DeForest of Chicago and granddaughters Jessica DeForest of Springfield and Katie (Tim) Hoiland of Phoenix, AZ, and great-grandchildren Samuel and Kaelyn Olmstead of Mesa, AZ. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 10:30 am in Wesley United Methodist Church, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Rivermonte Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 5 pm in the funeral home. The family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 1630 W. Elfindale St., Springfield, MO 65807 in lieu of flowers.