Vera Charlotte (Price) Robbins

Vera C. (Price) Robbins of Bemidji passed away at Sanford Hospital on October 17, 2025.

Vera was born August 9, 1934 to Theodore and Veronica (Lotter) Price in Saint Paul, MN.  She graduated from Wilson High School in 1952 and from Macalaster College in 1956 with a teaching degree in history.   After graduation, she got her first teaching position at Bemidji High School where she taught for two years. While living in Bemidji, she met Richard (Dick) Robbins at the old Jack’s Supper Club. They were married in 1957 and welcomed their first son, Rick, a year later. Shortly after his birth, Dick and Vera moved to Park Rapids and obtained teaching positions there. After two years in Park Rapids, they headed out to California and took teaching positions in the Tustin public school system. Vera taught eighth grade US History for the majority of her career before retiring in 1986. Her claim to fame, and passion, was an extended unit on the birth of our nation and the US Constitution. She also loved teaching about the Civil War, so much so that the first two family dogs were named Yankee Rebel and Lincoln Douglas. After moving to California, they welcomed a second son, Scott, in 1963. The family lived in Tustin, but would travel back to Bemidji every summer beginning in 1968. They stayed at Lake Bemidji State Park and later in a mobile home on a lot that they purchased. In 1980 Dick and Vera bought a home on Lake Movil. They retired to Bemidji in 1988, but spent most of their retirement winters in Orange County, CA near their son Rick and his family.

Vera was well known as the social director, hosting friends and family in Tustin as well as Bemidji. She enjoyed, and excelled at, preparing meals and passed those skills, along with numerous family recipes to her sons. Though never an athlete by her own admission, she was a terrific cheerleader for her sons, three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She did enjoy her hit and giggle golf girls at Bemidji Town and Country Club up until age 85 and often reminisced about how much fun they had playing “flog”. Some of those friends, as well as others, also spent time together playing bridge, although most of the time was spent talking about the latest news in town or about their respective families. 

Vera is survived by her husband of 68 years, Dick; sons Rick (Kathy) of Tustin, CA, and Scott of Bemidji; grandchildren Jack (Allison) Robbins of Dove Canyon, CA, Michelle (Jim) Findlater of Mission Viejo, CA and Stephanie (Jeff) Tikkanen of Sunnyvale, CA; as well as eight great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Dorothy Rysgaard, along with numerous close friends.

The family will have a private ceremony and thank you all for your friendship and support over the years.

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