Rosella "Rosie" Lee died on Friday morning of December 11, 2009, at the Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson at the age of 87. Funeral service was at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 16, at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson with Pastor Kendall Stelter and Pastor Lindsay Stolen officiating. Grandchildren Leah Breberg and Karin Ruchie read scriptures and friend, Lori Pehrson read the obituary; Jill Christie sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and Dean Pearson accompanied on piano by wife Joyce sang "How Great Thou Art"; and organist Barry Lund accompanied the singing of "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "Borning Cry" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". Grandson Joshua was an honorary casketbearer and the other grandchildren: Karin, Kellee, Leah, Brett, Jason and Jaimee were active casketbearers. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosella Della Lee was born January 28, 1922, in Bristol, South Dakota, to Howard and Agnes (Danielson) Schneider. Rosie was the first-born of seven children. She was baptized by the Holiness Methodist Church and remained a member of that church until her marriage. When Rosie was five, the family moved to Clarkfield, Minnesota, where her father farmed and Rosie attended elementary school. In 1936, the family moved to rural Dawson. Rosie told stories about having to cross the river in a boat to get to the bus stop to avoid a four-mile walk. She graduated from high school in 1940 and moved to the Twin Cities where she worked for Sears Roebuck and Company. In 1942, she went to work for the Cosby Worth Printing Company as a supply clerk. On June 3, 1944, she married Howard R. Lee, a farmer in rural Dawson. Four daughters were born to this union. Rosie became an accomplished farmer's wife, bringing meals into the fields and doing many chores for the livestock besides caring for home and family. It had been Rosie's life-long dream to become a nurse, and at age fifty-two, she began her studies at Rochester Area Vocational-Technical College in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended with her daughter Jean and Jean's friend, Rebecca Hudson. Rosie graduated as an honor student with a practical nursing degree. After receiving her license, she worked for twelve years as the school nurse for Dawson-Boyd Schools. As a school nurse, she was known for her sense of humor, her quick wit, and her cheery disposition. She also worked part-time during the summers in the Dawson Hospital and Nursing Home, sometimes making emergency ambulance runs with patients to Twin Cities hospitals. Since her marriage, Rosie has been an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School several years and participating in a women's circle. She was also active in Homemakers' Club. Known for her generosity and caring ways, Rosie often opened her home to those who needed a housing favor. She enjoyed friends and family, crocheting, reading and traveling. She often spoke of her trips to Hawaii, Japan and Korea and her cruise to Alaska. She enjoyed many trips to Louisiana and to other parts of the United States, including California, Georgia and Texas. A special part of Rosie's life involved Kenneth Larson, who came to live with the Lee family at age nine and remained with the family until his marriage to Gwen Skrukrud. They made their home in California with their daughter Lori. Lori has two children, Brandon and Jamie. Rosie was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Agnes; her husband Howard on September 11, 1967; daughter Linda on October 5, 1970; two sisters: Lois and Theora; and a brother, Berdett. She is survived by her daughter Ann (Robert) Knutson of Northfield, MN; daughter Jean (Jerry) Hartzog of Calhoun, Louisiana; daughter Deborah (Dale) Breberg of Dawson; brother Derald (Elizabeth) Schneider of Clara City, MN; brother Berdell (Sandra) Schneider of Antioch, California; brother Erling Schneider of Wayzata, MN; seven grandchildren: Kellee (Matthew) Mulhern, of Rosemount, MN; Karin Ruchie of Plymouth, MN; Jason, Jaimee and Joshua (Kim) Hartzog of Calhoun, Louisiana; Brett Breberg of Casper, Wyoming; and Leah Breberg of Marshall, MN; three great grandchildren: Kylie and Kassidy Jackson of Rosemount, MN; and Dominic Ruchie of Plymouth, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.