Irene Agnes Rosaaen

March 20, 1920 - December 28, 2015

Irene Agnes Rosaaen, 95, passed away on Monday, December 28, 2015, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. The daughter of Albert and Sophia Morken, Irene was born March 20, 1920, in Black Hammer Township. Irene was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Black Hammer, MN, and was a lifelong resident of Black Hammer and Spring Grove. She was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. As a young child attending the Black Hammer School, Irene was friends with the neighbor boy, Arnold G. Rosaaen, enjoying a friendship for many years. When he went off to war several years later, they exchanged many letters. When he came home on October 15, 1945, they quickly arranged to be married and were married in Black Hammer on November 15, 1945. They lived in Spring Grove where Arnold was a local businessman. Irene enjoyed helping Arnold in his business and was a vital link to its success. Irene enjoyed being a homemaker and participating in raising six children. Irene and Arnold enjoyed 60 years of marriage. Irene loved people and had a special place in her heart for each of her nephews and nieces and appreciated having them as a vital part of her life. Irene also held her friends and her children’s friends dear to her, enjoying each one of them; in her later years, she enjoyed her telephone friends. Irene enjoyed playing cards, especially with her grandkids and great grandkids and took great delight in beating them. Irene is survived by five children: David (Linda Ekern - Hamel, MN), Donald (Patricia Ryan - Plano, TX), Judith (John Graf - La Crescent, MN), Rita (Jeff Hillman – La Crosse, WI), and Brian (Minneapolis, MN); 8 grand-children: Nathan (Kelly) Rosaaen, Robin (Jon) Gaffaney, Andrew (Emily) Rosaaen, Kimberly (Mike) Stowe, Kirsten (Shaun) Dugan, Jeff (MaryAnn) Graf, Tammy (Tom) Kolen, Joseph Hillman, and 12 great-grand-children (Molly, Toby, Katelin, Mary, Boden, Griffin, Kaylie, Lily, Ryan, Jocelyn, Alyssa, Jordan; sisters-in-law Dorothy Rosaaen and Beverly Rosaaen as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Arnold, her parents Albert and Sophia, a son Rodney, a grandson Michael Hillman, granddaughters Laurie and Lisa Hillman, siblings and their spouses Eno (Laura) Morken, Tilford (Hilda) Morken, Alma (Grant) Ellingson, Clarence (Amy) Morken, Arnold (Helen) Morken, Edna (Peter) Hegge, Genora (Julius) Gulbranson, Edwin (Margaret) Morken. The family of Irene Rosaaen thanks you sincerely for your acts of kindness, and for words of comfort and prayers. Irene will be remembered for her compassion for others, her strength of character, and devotion to family and was a blessing to her family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church.