Rosalea Hilbert 88 of Sterling passed away March 13, 2016 in Sterling. She was born to Walter and Edith Smith south of Yuma Colorado, near the community of Hughs, in the homestead house on May 11, 1927.

Visitation will be held from 10:00am to 6:00pm Tuesday, March 15 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 16 at Christ United Methodist Church with Rev Ed Bigler III officiating.
Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery with a reception being held at the Christ United Methodist Church.

Rosalea grew up on the homestead loving all things about the farm and family. She attended a one room elementary school. Many times she would walk with her siblings to school which was two miles away and said to be uphill both ways. She attended high school in Yuma where she had to take room and board and go home on weekends and holidays.

She met Joe Stahley in Yuma and was married February 11,1945. From this marriage there were four sons born, Charlie and Bill, born in Yuma, Randy and John, born in Merino. The family farmed east of Yuma moving to an irrigated farm in the Merino area in 1956. Rosalea was a caring loving mother who made sure that her boys got to church on a regular basis instilling God in their lives for a life time.

Joe and Rosalea divorced and she married Don Hilbert in 1984. Don and Rosalea lived in Sterling for the rest of their lives.

She was a loving mother that shared her love of all things farming with her children. She especially loved working in her flower garden for all to see. Her happiest moments were when her boys would all come for dinner and tell stories about growing up. She especially enjoyed watching and playing with her grand children that were very important to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sister and a brother, and her first and second husband.

Rosalea is survived by Charlie and Mary Stahley of Merino, Bill and Donna Stahley of Wiggins, John and Deena Stahley of Kersey and Randy and Susan Stahley of Sterling, nine grand children, 8 great grand children, 3 great great grand children and sisters Iladean McCllung of Yuma and Pat Quarles of San Diego, California.

In leu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 455 Sherman Street, Suite 500, Denver Colorado, 82003.

Chaney-Reager Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.