Roberta Brown

Roberta Brown, 88, of Doolittle, Missouri, passed away on March 22, 2026 in New Market, Alabama surrounded by her daughter Susan Harrison and family. She was born in her family home in Doolittle Missouri, July 26, 1937 to the late Stephen Mihlfeld and Roberta (Talbert) Mihlfeld. Roberta graduated from Newburg High School in 1956 and always enjoyed attending the annual high school reunions.

After high school, she began attending Missouri State College in Springfield, MO for the teacher education program.

When she came home from school for a weekend, she met her husband and life-long best friend, Norman Brown at Fort Wyman Baptist church. They married December 19, 1959 at Fort Wyman Church. Both were attending school, he in Rolla and she taking heavy course loads in the summer at Missouri State College. They juggled classes, work, and a new baby, both graduating from their respective schools in 1962.

Roberta taught in a variety of schools. Early on she taught in rural communities for mixed grades in one/two room schools: Spring Creek school near Arlington and Jerome; Gottschall school, near the Sugartree resort on the Gasconade River; and Strauhaun school, a little north west of Rolla. When the family moved to Houston, MO, she taught 4th graders in a town setting. Upon returning to Rolla, Roberta taught at Flat Grove, one of the last two room schools in Phelps county.

It closed in 1973. She enjoyed teaching special needs students at B.W. Robinson at the end of her teaching career, retiring about 1995.

Roberta and Norman were proud to serve as “Mr. And Mrs. Newburg” in 2017. They were active in the Newburg Children’s Museum and Mount Olive Baptist Church and cemetery.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Norman (2022); her brothers, Robert Mihlfeld, Roy John Mihlfeld, Everett Mihlfeld; and sisters, Jane Danforth, Wanda Smith, and Norma Jean Ornsby. 

She is survived by her son Doyle and wife Dee Dee of Columbia, MO and their sons, Zachary, Cody, and Morgan; daughter Roberta and husband Ray Morgan of Rolla; daughter Sara Brown, of Oklahoma City and daughters Stephane, Kia, and Tiffane; daughter Susan and husband Jeffrey Harrison of New Market, Alabama and children Amelia, Joe, and John. She is also survived by a number of beloved nieces, nephews and two sisters, Mary King, Rebecca Drennan and sister in law, Evelyn Mihlfeld .

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be given to the Mount Olive Cemetery Association.

Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family