Rose Marie Anderson, 97, of Kimball, died at the Kimball County Manor on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Following her wishes, cremation has been held and Rosary service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. and a Memorial Service will follow at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kimball with Father C.P. Varghese officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Bluffs Cemetery in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Friends may visit www.cantrellfh.com to view Rose Marie’s Tribute Wall and share stories and condolences with the family. Memorials can be made to the Kimball County Manor where she received excellent care the last six months of her life. The services for Rose Marie Anderson have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.
Rose Marie Anderson was born on May 21, 1927, in St. Mary’s, Kansas, to Rudolph and Marie (Finn) Rezac. She spent her early years in St. Mary’s, Kansas, where she attended school until the 8th grade. During the Great Depression, her family sold all their possessions and relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where her father found work with the Union Pacific Railroad. Despite the challenges of the times, Rose Marie’s determination to succeed never wavered. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Cheyenne and graduated from high school in just three years before continuing her education at Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. She often recounted her journey to college with only one trunk of belongings, traveling by Union Pacific train.
In high school, Rose Marie met, Robert R. Anderson. The two were married after Robert returned from serving in World War II, and together they built a family and a life full of adventure. They raised five children: Peter V., Michael L., Daria, Joseph G., and Jina M. The family lived in various Wyoming and Nebraska cities, including Cheyenne, Casper, Rawlins, and Scottsbluff, before settling in Kimball in the early 1960s, where Rose Marie remained until her passing.
In pursuit of a better life for their family, Rose Marie and Bob ventured into business together, opening filling stations and car dealerships in Kimball. Rose Marie took on the role of bookkeeper for their businesses while also nurturing her passion for travel. Eventually, she turned that passion into a career, founding Rose Marie Travel Agency, which became known for organizing memorable trips, including popular gambling excursions to Deadwood, South Dakota. A woman of boundless curiosity, Rose Marie even took flying lessons. After successfully completing her solo flight, she humorously recounted a small accident, saying, “I’ve been in one plane crash. I hate to admit it, but I was the pilot.”
Throughout her life, Rose Marie was deeply engaged in her community. During World War II, she worked at Fort Warren Air Force Base and served as an ambassador for Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1946. Her love of community extended to Kimball, where she volunteered for numerous local events, including the town’s annual Farmer’s Day. In 2022, she was honored as the Grand Marshal of Farmer’s Day, a recognition of her many years of service. Rose Marie was also an active member of the Kimball Ambassadors and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where she belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society for 64 years. Rose Marie’s energy and commitment to her community were unwavering, even as she took on work with GRI in her later years. She also found time for personal passions, such as reading, genealogy, and cherishing moments with her family.
Rose Marie is survived by her son, Michael (Kingman, AZ); her daughters, Daria (Kimball, NE) and Jina (Gillette, WY); her daughter-in-law, Karen Anderson (Fort Morgan, CO); and her grandchildren: Heather, Shawn, Elizabeth, Rebecca, John-Robert, Patrick, Sharon, Lucas, Jessica, Joseph, and Nicholas. She is also survived by many great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved sons, Joseph G. and Peter V.; her sisters, Mary Francis and Sandy; and her brother, Larry.
