Rosemarie ‘Rosie’ Olsen

Born April 11, 1936, in Butte, Mont., the oldest of nine children of Paul B. and Rose Roe Olsen, Rosemarie Olsen slipped this mortal coil on March 3, 2020. She leaves behind five children: Rose Therese “Terri” (and Todd) Hadden, B. Patrick (and Karen Klinge) Murphy, Thomas A. (and Debbi Despain) Murphy, Sean J. (and Darlene Yost) Murphy and Erin M. Murphy, 11 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Meeting her on the other side are her loving parents; her sister, Mary Beth; five brothers and many dear friends.

Rosie earned her Bachelor of Science in medical technology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1958 with the Outstanding Student Award. She earned her Master’s degree in social work from Eastern Washington University in Spokane.

She married Bernard M. Murphy on Aug. 16, 1958 (divorced 1977), Ken Beam on Nov. 7, 1980 (divorced 1992), and high school friend, John Sullivan, in April 2004 (died 2016).

After graduation Rosie worked as a medical technologist in many hospitals, including St. James’ in Butte, St. Mary’s in Walla Walla, Wash., Lady of Lourdes in Pasco, Wash., Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, and PKMLabs in Spokane. After her Master’s, she worked as a social worker at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, at a free clinic associated with KMC and in private practice for four years.

Rosie was an avid musician, playing violin in symphony orchestras all over, including in the Butte Symphony, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Symphony, Coeur d’Alene Symphony, and with the Nine Pint Coggies Folk Group and other groups in Coeur d’Alene. She also enjoyed skiing, hiking, 8K races, camping, travel and sewing. One morning, when she got dressed, she realized she had made everything she was wearing except her shoes!

Rosie passed away quietly in Kennewick with daughter-in-law, Debbi, holding her hand.