Robirds

William H. and Mary (Peters) Robirds, 10 North 52 West

In 1880 Hamburg, Fremont County, Iowa, William "Roberts" is 37 Sarah J. 33, Isaac 11, Mary 10, and William 8.

In 1900 Otoe County, Nebraska, William is 58, Sarah J. 54, Mary 30, and John 16.

William claimed a quarter in section 6, 10N 52W, Logan County, in 1917.

In 1920 Shenandoah, Iowa, John J. Robirds is 37, Jestie 26, John 9, Ruby 7, and Clyde 5.

In 1930 Logan County, Mary Mayes is 60, married to James Mayes 70. A nephew, John Robirds, 19 is living with them.

Mary (Roberts) Mayes 1869-1951 is buried in Sterling # 56902074, with James H. 1859-1938.

In 1917 William owned 120 acres in section 6, next to John Robirds with 40 acres and Mary A. Robirds with 120 acres.

Marjorie Williamsmarried W.D. Robirds Dec 24, 1927, recorded in Logan County.

"William Henry Robirds was born in 1871 in Shanendoa, Iowa. William Henry married Mary Gertrude Peters on 12/17/1893. They had eight children:Sarah Edith(LeBlanc), Evelyn Antoinette (Kulbe), Jennie Mae(Sanders), Nellie Louise (Coakley), William D., Frank M., Claude W., Donald Ray and Ralph Roland. Evelyn Antoinette grew up in Peru and Julian, Nebraska. She attended Julian High School with her sister Edith. The entire family moved to rural Logan County,Colorado in March 1913. They eventually settled in Sterling, then moved to Boulder, Colorado for a time, back to Sterling, then on to Denver, where they lived until Evelyn's husband William Carl Kulbe died. She moved to Florida to be near two daughters, and died at Pompano Beach, Florida on March 14, 1992."

William Henry Robirds 1871-1945 is buried in Loveland, Colorado # 43672085, with Mary Gertrude (Peters) Robirds 1879-1947.

Edith Robirds and Lucien LeBlanc married in Logan County on April 18, 1917.

January 1, 1920 "William Carl Kulbe and Miss Evelyn Antainelte Robirds were united in marriage in Sterling Saturday, December 20, 1919 at 2:00 p. m. A number of relatives attended the young couple. Miss Robirds is a teacher in the Padroni schools and a popular member of the younger social set. The groom has grown from youth to manhood in our midst and possesses many sterling qualities. Congratulations are extended by their hosts of friends in this vicinity."

"On Thursday, April 5, 2018 Carol Robirds, wife, mother, daughter and sister, passed away at the age of 77 after a long illness. Carol will be forever remembered by her daughter, Elaine Robirds and two sons, Craig Robirds and Rick (Lisa) Robirds, her grandchildren Kayla (Jerett) Lazor, Bethany Robirds and Jacob Robirds and great grandson, Blake Lazor. Also survived by her sisters Grace Robirds and Wanda Acosta, brother in-laws James Robirds, Tim (Barbara) Robirds, and Dennis Robirds. Preceding Carol in death was her loving husband of 56 years, Donald (Don) Robirds, her mother Jessie Lucero, sister in-law Marliyn Golden, and brother in-law Robert Robirds, and in-laws William and Marjorie Robirds. Carol grew up and graduated from High School in Crook, Colorado. Carol and Don raised their family in Sterling Colorado and Carol worked in retail sales for many years helping support her family. Don and Carol owned Cedar Creek Service and Repair North of Sterling, Colorado for 25+ years. She was active in the community including Our Ladies of Guadalupe at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. She loved to cook and celebrated many holidays with family and friends. Her hobbies included needlepoint and sewing. Memorial Services to be planned for a later date in Sterling, Colorado. "

"In 1975, Ron Robirds and his wife Dodie saw an opportunity and went for it going from employee to employer and from "punching the clock" to setting the clock.
In early October, the Robirds closed the book on a little more than 38 years of covering feet in northeast Colorado.
In the early 1970s, a Fort Collins man opened a lease department shoe store in Watkins clothing store in downtown Sterling. The venture became more commitment than he wanted to pursue and the business suffered.
"After several years, the bank shut him off, foreclosed," Ron Robirds recalled.
Robirds saw the man's loss as opportunity and approached the bank about purchasing the business.
That was the start of the family's 38-plus year adventure in selling shoes in Sterling, but Robirds moved his last box of shoes early in October.
The store was sold to Brown's Shoe Fit, a company with a history of more than 100 years throughout the Midwest of the United States. The company opened its first store in 1911 and has expanded to 80 locations in 12 states.
Maybe not on such a grand basis, but the Shoe Tree is no newcomer to expansion, having started out in Watkins directly across fom the Logan County Courthouse, to their current location which was also expanded a few years ago.
Referring to the original lease department store they owned, Robirds said, "At some point, it became impractical."
A lease department, he explained, involves selling from a space in a store, turning in all the receipts to the store and profit is based on a percentage after the space lease is paid.
So the Robirds began the transition from the lease business to an independent store at it's current location while Ron was managing Sterling Country Club (from 1978-1983) and Dodie managed the shoe store.
"In order to do that, we had to remodel the whole store," his wife Dodie said.
The store had a 1950s-style ceiling, shag carpet and colors that didn't belong with the appearance they were seeking. They contracted with an Idaho company that specializes in shoe store designs. In March 1980, they opened the store to the public.
"It was two weeks to remodel, get our inventory in," Ron said.
"As fast as they were putting fixtures out, I was putting shoes up," Dodie said.
In 1995, the owner offered to sell the building to the Robirds, and in 2010, the Robirds expanded the Shoe Tree into the east side of the corner in what is now the store.
Robirds said the "big trick" to succeeding in business is capitalization. He said some of the agreements he was able to make when entering business probably wouldn't happen today.
"I think today you couldn't get that done," Ron said.
Quality customer service and the right employees also help, he added.
One of the key people in the Shoe Tree operation was Donna Artzer, they say. She was employed at least 25 years for the Shoe Tree. They also had many part-time and student employees over the years.
Looking back at more than 38 years owning a shoe store, more than that in the shoe business, Robirds recalls the long hours, few days off and difficulty in scheduling family time. He said even with the 24/7 commitment, it was an enjoyable experience owning The Shoe Tree.
He said the new owners, Brown's Shoe Fit, will offer the Sterling community more options in product line and service because of their history and ability to transfer merchandise among their network of stores.
"These folks have resources," he said.
He said with 83 stores, Brown's Shoe Fit can transfer merchandise instead of returning it or being overstocked through a season.
"They (customers) come in with an idea, we get them to the right idea," said Ron and the new store manager for Brown's Shoe Fit, Josh Linhardt.
Sale of the business closed on Oct. 8 but Robirds is retaining ownership of the building. Petra Schreiner will also remain with the store.
Now with both Robirds done with their responsibility to a time clock, they are looking forward to more time with family, maybe traveling to places they haven't seen yet.
Linhardt said the store will continue most of the product lines The Shoe Tree is known for, and add others that Brown's promotes and can special order shoes for customers as well.
Because of this level of service, Linhardt said the change is being received well.
"I've seen a lot of excitement in the community," he said."

"Robert Eldon LeBlanc, 95 of Sterling, passed away Mon. Jan. 11, 2016 in Sterling. Visitation will be Fri., Jan. 15 and Sat., Jan. 16 from 1pm until 4pm at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Mon., Jan. 18 at 10am at the United Church of Crook with Pastor Dale Pierce officiating. Interment will be immediately after the funeral at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling. Lunch served afterward at the United Church of Crook. Robert was born June 4, 1920 on his grandfather's homestead near Winston, CO, between Peetz and Padroni to Lucien C. and Sara E. Robirds LeBlanc. He graduated from Crook High School in 1939. On April 26, 1942 in Sterling, CO Robert married Lucile M. McDonnell. They were married for 73 years. He farmed and ranched in the Crook area before moving to Sterling in 2014. Robert was a member of the United Church of Crook, the Crook Community Club serving as Chairman, was a 4-H Leader. He served on the board of the Presbyterian Church in Crook and was active in uniting the Presbyterian Church and Congregation Church in Crook to form the United Church of Crook in 1963. Robert served on the building committee for the current church building, which was dedicated on April 7, 1966, celebrating 50 years this spring. He also served on the School Board District #62, was chairman of the Reorganization Committee of the Logan County School District. Robert served as chairman of the Farmer's Union and was a founding member of Chimney Canyon Grazing Association. Robert is survived by his wife Lucile M. LeBlanc of Sterling, CO; sons Richard LeBlanc and wife Miriam of Lincoln, NE, Jack LeBlanc and wife Pat of Hildreth, NE, Scott LeBlanc and wife Lynne of Crook, CO; daughters Melony Graham and husband Ron of Greeley, CO and Julie Weingardt and husband Steve of Tampa, FL.; 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Lucas Robert LeBlanc; brothers and sisters Alice Shires, Leslie LeBlanc, Janice Franklin, Wilfred Warren LeBlanc, Calvin Loyal LeBlanc, Jeanne Bailey, Ted Wayne LeBlanc and Charles Dean LeBlanc. Memorials may be made to the United Church of Crook. "