Rose Thorsness

Rose Thorsness, 94, Bismarck, formerly of Crystal Springs, died April 14, 2014, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, with the Rev. Ed Wehner and Rev. Msgr. Patrick Schumacher officiating and Rev. Shane Campbell as concelebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck. Visitation will be from 3:00- 9:00 p.m. Monday, April 21, at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck, where a vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Rose was born September 13, 1919, at Crystal Springs, ND, the only daughter of Norm and Margaret McCann Cullen. She, along with her three brothers, were raised on a farm north of Crystal Springs. Education was very important to Rose, she either rode her horse or her dad would take her with the team and wagon so she could attend elementary school in Crystal Springs. During her sophomore year of high school she lived with relatives in Verona, ND, and attended school there. She returned home for her junior and senior years and graduated from Tappen High School in 1938. While attending high school she tutored students in the lower grades with their reading. She was the captain of the basketball team and also lettered, something her children were unable to do! On Oct. 2, 1940, Rose married her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, Sidney Thorsness. They were married at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Tappen. They lived on the Joel Nelson farm for seven years and in the fall of 1947 Sid and Rose moved to the Otto Thorsness farm, where they lived for 34 years. Rose's faith was very important to her and she was very involved in her church. She was a member of the St. Paul's Altar Society, taught CCD for many years, and sang in the church choir. She would often take full advantage of the 13 mile trip from the farm to Tappen, having her kids practice their prayers! She and Sid were members of a neighborhood card club and also belonged to a square dance club. After retiring from farming, Sid and Rose moved to Bismarck in April 1982. She enjoyed gardening and took great pride in her flower gardens. Rose will always be remembered for her cooking and baking, especially her homemade buns, bread, cookies, and pies. She enjoyed traveling to see family and friends, along with attending many of the grandkids baseball, basketball, and hockey games. Rose was also an avid Minnesota Twins baseball fan and spent many hours watching them win and lose on TV! She really enjoyed attending a Twins game whenever she had the opportunity. Rose is survived by her seven children, Margaret Darnell, Colorado Springs, Colo., Roger Stephany and Berdean Darlene, both of Tappen, Ronda Thorsness and Kevin Marcia, both of Fargo, and Valerie Vogel and Linnae Tom Thompson, both of Bismarck; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; two sisters-in-law, Marlys White, Steele, and Dorothy Maxey, Fort Worth, Texas; and many nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney; her parents; three brothers, John Jack, Edward Ted, and Cameron Bud; one grandson, Bryan Ehmann; one great-grandson, James Hanneman; along with many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, and wonderful friends. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Holly Smith and Debbie Sukauskas for helping their Mom with her needs; along with the 4th floor St. Alexius Medical staff. Your care and kindness will never be forgotten. The sadness her family and friends feel about her death is overshadowed by their contentment that she is once again with Sid, whom she so dearly loved and missed. In lieu of flowers and memorials, donations can be made to St. Paul's Catholic Altar Society, Tappen, and St. Anne's Catholic Church, Bismarck.

Rose Thorsness

September 13, 1919 - April 14, 2014