Roberta Silveira Saling was born in Atwater on Nov. 25, 1939 to Raulino & Bertha Silveira. Roberta was the oldest of two children. She grew up in McSwain on the family dairy. She attended McSwain Elementary School and Merced High School where she graduated in 1958. After high school graduation Roberta attended Modesto Jr College and got her BA in business. Soon after college she went to work for Farmers Inc.
Roberta met the love of her life Ronald E. Saling in 1965. When Ronald returned from the service they were married July 23, 1966, and made their home in Merced. In 1967 their son Ronald E. Saling Jr. was born. In 1968 Roberta went to work for Farm Bureau and then worked for Cal Farm Inc. for 28 years until her retirement in 1996. After her retirement she became very active in many organizations, such as Merced County Historical Society, Native Daughters of the Golden West Merced, Mariposa & Oakdale Chapters, Merced Courthouse Museum Volunteer, and Merced Genealogy Society.
Roberta loved to travel and went many places in and out of the country. She loved cars, gardening and taking care of all her succulent, Roses and Iris gardens. She had a great love for baseball, especially the San Francisco Giants. She loved her family very much and was an extremely proud Nana of two grandsons, Matthew Saling and Luke Saling. They were the joy of her life. She never missed a sporting or school event; she was always there to cheer them on.
Roberta was preceded in death by her Mother Bertha Silveira and her Father Raulino Silveira. Her Sister in law Joan Echols.
Roberta is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 56 years Ronald Saling, her son Ronald Saling Jr. her daughter in law Lisa Saling, two Grandsons Matthew & Luke Saling. Her Brother Rollin Silveira (Marlene) Sister in law Judy Wilson (Bill) and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on March 9, 2023 at Stratford Evans Funeral Home 1490 B Street, Merced CA. Burial at Merced District Cemetery. There will be a reception in Roberta’s honor after the burial at the Stratford Evans reception hall. The Saling family request in lieu of flowers donations can be made in Roberta’s honor to Merced Historical Society or Our Lady of Mercy School 1400, E 27th Street Merced, CA, 95340 where her two grandchildren attended school and she loved very much.