Rose Mary “Rosie” Colbenson, 88, died December 10, 2017, in her special little place at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home, Rushford, Minn. She and her husband of 69 years, Obert, 96, produced a legacy of many little feet: David (Sara, Heather, Trista, Reall); Judy Marie (predeceased), Patricia, Craig and spouse Nancy (Emily, Kristi, James), Lynn and spouse Cal Feine (Janelle, Nickolas), Tim and spouse Shirley (Ben, Brian, Brandon, Breanna), and 20 great-grandchildren.
Born to parents of European descent, Conrad and Marie Steinbauer, and raised rurally in Rushford, Rosie, along with sister Margaret and brother Bob, lost her father to pneumonia at age nine. Rosie’s uncles, Joe and John, stepped in and helped the family through the years. Richard and Dan Dernek, both of whom later became Roman Catholic priests, also spent time with the family.
Rosie was educated at both Hart and Rushford schools. It was in her later school years at Rushford that Rosie became aware of a handsome, confident young man that drove a JEEP. Eventually married, she and Obert established residency on their farm three miles north of Rushford. Rosie and Obert, both having serious work ethics, worked through joys and hardships to develop a beautiful home and farm, let alone raise five children. Rosie also worked full-time at Rush Products/TRW for 31 years.
To know Rosie was to know: her cooking, her bread baking, her gardening, her canning, her sincerity, that little glint in her eye, her spunkiness, her drive and her kindness. She was a lover of husband Obert and their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her relatives, and friends. She shared a special bond with her sister Margaret. In 1985, she and Margaret visited closely related family in Czechoslovakia.
Having seen so many advancements in her lifetime, Rosie’s concern was that the world is moving too fast. Her desire was that it slow down, conserve.
Rosie: loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend is greatly missed.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 28, at Hoff Funeral Home, 780 N Mill St, Rushford, Minn., from 3-5:30 p.m. According to Rosie’s wishes, immediately following will be a private family ceremony conducted by her relative Father Richard Dernek. Memorials are preferred to Good Shepherd Lutheran Home, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or charity of choice. Leave a memory and sign Rosie’s online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.