Rosella Ross

Rosella “Sally” Ross (formerly Marr), age 94, of Staples, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Lakewood Care Center in Staples. Sally’s funeral service will be Thursday, February 16, at 2 PM, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Staples. Visitation will be at the church 12:30- 2:00, prior to services. Spring interment will be at Evergreen Hill Cemetery.

Rosella “Sally” Violet Ross was born January 11, 1923 in Johnson, Minnesota, the daughter of Emil and Lydia (Spilker) Modrow. Sally was confirmed in1936, graduated from Clarissa High School in 1941 and then moved to the Grand Rapids area, where she worked candling eggs before the war. She was united in marriage to Harold “Elmer” Marr on June 4, 1947. She became an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and was involved in many church activities. Sally was also a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She loved being outside, and enjoyed gardening and yard work. Sally loved music; she played the guitar and piano. At the Care Center she was a member of the choir. She always loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After she was widowed when Elmer passed away in 1976, Sally worked at Batcher’s Department Store in Staples. During her later years, she was united in marriage to Richard Ross and moved to Grand Rapids. After being widowed a second time, she moved to River Hills Assisted Living in Cambridge, where she lived for a year and a half prior to entering Lakewood Care Center in 2009. Sally’s good nature and wonderful sense of humor were always appreciated at the Care Center where she was a frequent bingo player. Sally was chosen to be Queen of the Care Center for Railroad Days, during her first year at Lakewood.

Left to remember Sally and live out her legacy are her children, Andrea (Elmer) Johnson, of Isanti, Mallory (Sandra) Marr, of Waubun, Glen (Karen Shea) Marr, of Champlin, and Dianne (Curt) Meyers, of Foley; her grandchildren, Shari, Lisa, Becky, Anna, Sarah, Mitchell, Andrew, Mathew, Katie, Maggie and Tori; and her great-grandchildren, Tressa, Noah, Tenley, Trigg, Spencer, Parker, Connor, Sally and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Lydia Modrow; two husbands, Elmer Marr and Richard Ross; a granddaughter, Melissa; five sisters, Tina, Caroline, Darlene, Barbara, and Betty; and a brother, Mike. Services entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples.