Rosemary Ann (Maher) Benke

In accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control a visitation with social distancing and 25% capacity will be held Monday, June 1, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Helgeson Funeral Home. A PRIVATE Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, June 2, at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

Rosemary Ann Benke passed away on May 25, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN at the age of 72.

Rosie was born October 11, 1947 in Minneapolis, MN to Daniel and Beulah (Hammen) Maher. She grew up in Minneapolis, the oldest of eight children.  Rosie attended elementary school at Minneapolis Parochial and high school at Southwest High School, graduating in 1965.

She married Michael Benke on August 17, 1968, in Minneapolis. They had three children – Michael, Elizabeth, and Joseph.

In 1969 Rosie received her B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota in Morris. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree from Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall. Rosie was a Special Education teacher, retiring in 2010 from the Warroad school district. Throughout her career she held a variety of teaching jobs, including Headstart, Adult Basic Education, and ESL (English as a Second Language).

Rosie enjoyed cooking, reading, playing the piano, doing crossword puzzles, going for walks, and watching birds. She loved spending time with family and going to the many baseball games and other activities of her children and grandchildren. Rosie’s faith and family were the most important things in her life. She was a devout Catholic who enjoyed going to church women’s teas, prayer groups, and singing with the choir at church services. She was kind, compassionate and always putting other’s needs before her own. She will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of getting to know her.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; children Michael (Mandy), Elizabeth (Phil), Joseph (Kirsten); granddaughter Bella (Elizabeth’s daughter), granddaughter Sophie and grandson Briggs (Mike & Mandy’s); granddaughter Brooklyn (Joe & Kirsten’s); brothers, sisters, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Steve.

The family would like to extend many thanks for all the prayers and support from family and friends.

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