Rose Colby, 89, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. Rose was born on June 30, 1919, in Norton, Kan., to William Alfred and Hester Mildred (Wells' Shewey.

Rose wrote that "It was the 'good old days' ... the sod house, the rattlesnakes, the sand storms, cyclones, tornado alerts. Times were hard, we usually had bread but no spread and we just sprinkled salt on it instead. We enjoyed running on the Kansas plains, chasing butterflies and hoping we didn't get chiggers."

As a young girl the family moved to North Dakota west of Marmarth where her mother died August of 1935. Being the oldest, Rose cared for the other siblings. Rose traveled to Kila with her family in 1936 to visit cousins. This is where she met George Colby whom she married on July 24, 1939.

Rose was a hard worker and creative and could make something useful out of anything. Rose worked at Montgomery Wards, Woodward's and Anthony's. She had The Recipe Corner in the Daily Inter Lake for 12 years, was a foster parent for 18 years, and used her teaching degree for Colby Private Kindergarten for 13 years. She considered it a privilege to teach those young minds and kept in touch with many of them through their graduations and weddings. Rose also spent several years counseling young women through their tough times.

A great day in her life was on Sept. 30, 1990, when she and George found the anchor they needed at Central Christian Church. What a welcoming and caring church family!

Rose was a member of the Eagles where she and George would dance most weekends. They traveled a lot visiting friends and relatives.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 70 years, George, on March 29, 2009; her parents; and sisters, Mildred Shewey (infant), Wilma St. John, Marie Turner and Martha Brown.

She is survived by her three sons, Melvin Colby and wife Laurel, Bob Colby, and Clay Colby and his wife Randi; her sister, Jane Gantt, and husband, Cliff, of Hillsboro, Ore.; brother, William Shewey Jr., and wife, Geraldine, of Eugene, Ore.; grandchildren, Steve, Keith and Karla, Mark and Tina, Adam, Karin, Joshua and Kaitlyn, and Caleb and Brittney; great-grandchildren, Kiel and Kayla; great-great-grandson, Zane; adopted grandson, Russ Kastner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Central Christian Church or The Gemini Program, 146 Third Ave. W., Kalispell, MT 59901 (a mentoring program for girls).

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the Central Christian Church in Kalispell.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Rose's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Rose's guest book.