Roberta "Bobbie" Lynn (Ersland) McBain, 74, of Belmond, Iowa passed away on
Monday, July 11, 2022 at her home surrounded by loved ones.
Memorial services for Bobbie McBain will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, July
16, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rd Avenue Northeast in Belmond, with
Pastor Katie Pals officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. The
memorial service will be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Friday, July 15, 2022 at Ewing
Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane South in Belmond, and will continue one hour
prior to services at the church on Saturday.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Gateway Guardians (Gateway
Hospice),103 2nd Ave NE in Clarion, Iowa 50525.
Bobbie was born on May 10, 1948 in Belmond to Richard Lynn Ersland and Ruth
Arlene (Lein) Ersland. Bobbie's older brothers Gary LuVerne Ersland and Larry
"Babe" Jay Ersland were thrilled to finally have a little sister to adore.
Bobbie was the youngest for four years, until her twin siblings, Randal Dean
Ersland and Rebecca Jean Ersland's arrival. To the Ersland family, a personal
walk of faith was important, therefore, Bobbie was baptized and confirmed at
Trinity Lutheran Church (Belmond, IA). Bobbie was born and raised an Iowa farm
girl where her chores included gathering eggs, washing the bulk tank, and
walking beans. When she wasn't busy with chores, you could find young Bobbie
dancing her heart out at ballet or tap, patiently learning the piano, or getting
into trouble with her best friend and neighbor, Karen Loth. As years passed,
Bobbie could be found on the stage performing in theater and debate.
Bobbie graduated from Belmond High School in 1966 and furthered her education
with her best friend by her side. Bobbie, then, found her true calling in life
as a mother with the arrival of her sons, Eric Stephen Kraling and Joshua
Stephen Kraling. The boys kept Bobbie on her toes with activities such as Cub
Scouts, where Bobbie found herself being the Cub Scout Leader. Bobbie's boys
also enjoyed theater and, at 13, Eric ran lines with Bobbie for her return to
the stage for the production of Cheese Cake. Bobbie continued to further her
education and, in doing so, found everlasting, unconditional love. It was while
taking courses in the midst of raising two young men that she met Larry McBain.
Larry was, and always will be, the love of Bobbie's life. Bobbie and Larry were
married January 31, 1998 and have enjoyed life's adventures together ever since.
The McBain's were always the hosts for the holidays, with Bobbie's kitchen
overflowing with savory dishes. They often snuck away from Belmond for "McBain
Family Trips'' that included houseboats, road trips, and endless laughter. When
returning home, Bobbie found her time filled for 28 years with her work as a
Realtor, where she guided families and individuals in their pursuit of their
dream homes. Bobbie found fulfillment in volunteering with Wright County
Hospice from 1998-2018, where one year she was selected as Volunteer of the
Year. Bobbie also worked as the executive director of the Belmond Chamber of
Commerce, served as the secretary and treasurer of the Wright and Hamilton
County Board of Realtors for ten years, and was an active member of Toastmasters
and The Woman's Christian Club.
1992 brought boundless joy, as Bobbie began responding to "Grandma Bobbie" and,
as she welcomed each grandchild and great grandchild, her heart grew and her
cookie recipe was indefinitely memorized. Bobbie's final stage performance was
in the 2018 Iowa River Players production of M*A*S*H*.
Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Ruth (Lein) Ersland,
brothers Babe and Randal Ersland, sister Rebecca Ersland, and other loved ones.
Bobbie will be deeply missed by her husband Larry, best friend Karen Rasmussen,
her brother Gary (Meredith) Ersland, her sisters-in-law Jan Ersland and Beverly
Hogy, her sons Eric Kraling, Joshua (Julie) Kraling, Rodney (Tanya) McBain, her
grandchildren Molly, Jason, Loretta, Zach, Faith, Quinton, Avery, Mackenzie, and
Austin, her great grandchildren Lincoln, Zephyr, and Diane-Krissalee, and
countless friends, family, and clients.