Mary Jesse Rosenberg 1916-2011, Rest in Peace

As you can see, my mom passed away today. I loved my mom
or "Ma" as her children called her. She was a lady who was an extremely hard worker and had a big heart. She was a working mom before working moms became popular. For many years she worked at the Renville County Hospital as a nurses aide and then got to work in the nursery which she just loved. She just loved being with those babies.

My mom was half "Bohemian" (as grandpa called himself) and 1/4 Chippewa and 1/4 French Canadian. She grew up on the White Earth Reservation which is an "open rez" and covered a number of towns. Her town was Bejou near Bemidji in Northern Minnesota. She went to grade school there and then her family moved to Renville County where somewhere along the way she met a full blooded Swede named Carl Rosenberg and they married and farmed for many years in and around the Olivia area.

Two things my mom didn't like. She hated her middle name "Jesse" and she didn't want anyone to know she was part Chippewa Indian. She loved raising her kids, sewing,  crafts and playing cards with her friends. She also enjoyed being active in her church and with the VFW/Legion. She loved listening to "old time" music and dancing to polkas and waltzes. I imagine that right now she is dancing a polka with her husband in Heaven.

One of my fondest memories was when Lynn and I were first married and we all went fishing together. We caught our limit of crappies and had our picture taken with a big stringer of fish. I wish I could find that picture but I think I may have lost it.

Also, my mom had a strange habit. She would take photos of friends and relatives lying dead in their caskets. To her it was important because it was the last time she could see those people. Well  Ma, rest assured, we will take your picture to add to your collection. Rest in peace Mary Rosenberg. You will be missed.