Salter was born
Roberta Star Semple at Matilda Hospital in
Hong Kong, where her mother and father, Robert James Semple, were doing missionary work. Robert died of
dysentery and
malaria on August 19, 1910, 1 week after the couple's 2nd wedding anniversary; Roberta was born 29 days later. Her mother named her "Roberta" in her father's memory and "Star" because she had brightened what Aimee perceived to be a grim future. After Roberta's birth, Aimee boarded a ship bound for the United States, reconnecting with her mother, Mildred, in New York City, who got her a job with the
Salvation Army. Aimee met then married accountant Harold McPherson, who moved his new family to
Providence, Rhode Island, where their son and Roberta's half-brother Rolf was born. Aimee ultimately left McPherson, taking the children with her to her native Canada, where she launched her ministry. After 7 years of traveling throughout North America, Aimee decided to settle in
Los Angeles to give both the ministry a home base and Roberta and Rolf stability. Roberta inherited her mother's "brilliant smile," biographer
Daniel Mark Epstein noted in his 1993 book
Sister Aimee. She led children's services at her mother's revivals. Roberta also hosted a radio program and wrote a youth column, "Aunt Birdie", for the church newspaper. ==Adulthood==