Sally Ireland Robertson

Hon. Sally Ireland Robertson, age 74, of Wadena, Minnesota, died on August 14, surrounded by family. Born on July 18, 1948, in Hamilton, Ohio, she was the daughter of Robert E. and L. Gail (Pratt) Ireland. A 1966 graduate of Taft High School, she earned her BA in English from Denison University (1970), MA from Miami University of Ohio (1972), and JD from the University of New Mexico School of Law (1979). Sally married James Mitchell Robertson on December 12, 1970, in Hamilton. Life together brought adventures in Oxford, Ohio; Tucson; Albuquerque; Barcelona, Spain; and Pine Ridge, South Dakota, before settling at what she lovingly called Wildrose Farm, north of Wadena. They have lived near Wadena since 1981. As a young attorney, Sally practiced law at Dakota Plains Legal Services, a legal non-profit on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, before joining Kennedy and Nervig Law Firm in Wadena. Governor Carlson appointed her to the bench in 1996. Sally was among the first female judges of the ten-county Seventh Judicial District, with chambers in Long Prairie, Detroit Lakes, and Wadena, and she served until her retirement in 2018. Sally believed due process was the cornerstone of American democracy. She cared deeply about people’s experiences in the legal system and that justice was served with dignity and humanity, despite often difficult circumstances. Sally was committed to community and professional service as a member of the Wadena Rotary Club prior to her judicial appointment; in the Minnesota Bar Association; Minnesota District Judges Association; National Judicial College; and as a longtime supporter of arts, humanities, and conservation organizations, including the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer; New York Mills Regional Cultural Center; Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region; Whiskey Creek Film Festival; and Minnesota Public Radio. She loved her family and community and found joy in the wonders of nature, the arts, music and poetry. Sally was diagnosed with two relentless neurodegenerative conditions, ALS and FTD, beginning in 2020. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, James Robertson; son Colin Robertson and his wife Monica (Reno, NV); daughter Caitlin (Northfield, MN); grandchildren Tate, Auden, and Lucy Robertson and Juniper Ramsey; brother Tom Ireland, his wife Kathleen, and family; sister Kathleen Russell and family; beloved Robertson brothers- and sisters-in-law and their children, and extended Ireland, Iron Cloud, Russell, and Pratt families on whom she enjoyed keeping an encyclopedic knowledge. She counted many friends and colleagues as family. Sally's BELOVED parents, Bob and Gail, preceded her in death. A celebration of Sally's life will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Maslowski Wellness Center, 17 5th St. SW, in Wadena, with light food and music from 4-8p.m. and a special time for remembrances and stories at 5 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, ℅ Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or the ALS Association of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, 1919 University Ave. W., Ste 175, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Sally Ireland Robertson

July 18, 1948 - August 14, 2022