Robbie Besarick
Robbie Besarick was born Robin Sue White on March 19, 1961, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Horace Stewart White (Ipswich, S.D.) and Beverly Jean (Olson, Vermillion, S. D.). She was the fourth of four children, following Linda (1947), Roger (1948), and Ronald (1954 – 1962).
She attended elementary school in Sioux Falls, but in her early teens moved to Aptos, Calif., with her mother, and graduated from high school there. She met Henry Martin while they were both working at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. They married in 1981 and moved to Australia, where their first son, (Henry) Scott, was born. Work next took them to Bokeelia, Fla., where their second son, Max, was born. Fifteen years later, Henry and Robin ended their marriage but remained close in subsequent years. Henry preceded Robin in death, December 25, 2019.
Around the year 2000, Robbie met Bill Besarick. They were married in December of 2002 and were inseparable until Bill’s passing on December 1, 2018.
Bill was an airport manager in the San Diego area when they met, but soon took a job in Northern California, then Fargo, N.D., before they finally settled in Grant, Neb.
Robbie is survived by her sons, Scott and Max, Scott’s wife Megan and their two children, Clark and Lorelei; and Max’s wife Shelby and their two children Lyla and Jude. Other family survivors include Robbie’s sister, Linda Elam, her grandson Zac and her husband Stephen Poteat, brother Roger and his wife Kay White and their five children and spouses, and four grandchildren.
Robbie was fiercely independent, which sometimes masked her sensitive and giving heart. It is generally known that her health was not good at any time in her life, especially in the last 15 years. Where physical failures and medical complications would have overcome many, Robbie soldiered on, as if those challenges gave her an opportunity to rise above circumstances.
Though she struggled with the loss of her husband, Bill, for more than a year, following this Easter, she seemed to have turned a page in her life, planning to finally move back to Florida where she could be close to Scott and Max’s families. She was in frequent discussions with her sons and brother, Roger, for planning purposes. Most recently, holding some decisions off until the planned arrival of Roger and Kay in Grant on June 8. But before Roger and Kay could get to Grant, Robbie’s indomitable spirit was checked by the exhaustion of her body. Coincidently, inspired by vigorous Bible study at and following Easter, Robbie was at a renewed peace with her faith – being prepared, one thinks, for anything. She now has the gift of a resurrected body, and dwells in the presence of her Lord and Savior.
A memorial has been established in Robbie’s memory for later designation by her family. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at 2 p.m. at the Grant Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Russ Gaar officiating. No interment of cremains is planned at this time.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.