Rose Mary Keller, 78, Rugby, passed away October 3, 2014 peacefully at her home surrounded by her family after a six-year courageous battle with cancer which she faced with courage, perseverance, grace, dignity and determination. Though cancer took her body, her spirit lives on. Rose was a devout Catholic who loved the Lord and the Blessed Mother and was a faithful servant all her life.

Rose, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Goetz) Jundt, was born July 17, 1936 on the family homestead southwest of Berwick in McHenry County, North Dakota. Rose attended country school through grade 5, grades 6-8 at Little Flower School after her family moved to Rugby, and graduated from Rugby High School in 1954. In her teens, Rose worked at Rugby Hospital as a floor ward, at the Rugby Theater as an usher, at the bowling alley setting up pins and babysat. As she got older, she worked in people’s homes doing various jobs such as washing and ironing clothes, cleaning, cutting hair and putting in perms. Rose married the love of her life, Frank Adam Keller, on May 29, 1956 in Rugby at Little Flower Catholic Church. In 1957, they moved to Bozeman, MT for six months due to Frank’s position with the railroad prior to moving back to Rugby.

Rose was a compassionate and selfless person with a great smile. We were proud to call her wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her greatest joy in life was giving – never wanting anything in return and was always thinking of others first. Rose loved her husband and two daughters very much and always enjoyed doing things for them. As she got older, what she loved and enjoyed most was taking care of her grandchildren when they were growing up. She only had three, but she adored each of them. The last few years she would have loved doing the same for her great-grandchildren if her health would have let her. Rose was a talented seamstress, loved planting flowers, painting and staining. She loved to decorate her home for every holiday, especially for Christmas which gave her so much joy. Rose was well-known for her garage sales. She loved to have them every year and enjoyed going to them as well. She liked to play cards with family, enjoyed playing bingo and taking trips to the casino. Rose had a beautiful voice and loved to sing hymns in church. Taking pictures at every occasion of family, flowers and gifts received to remember the moments was very special to her. She was a member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers at Little Flower Catholic Church in Rugby.   

Rose was dedicated to her husband of 58 years, Frank of Rugby; and two daughters, Karen Keller and Karla (Louis) Bickler, both of Bismarck. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Darren (Rachel) Tetzloff, their son, Dominic, and daughter, Eve; Heather (Casey) Traynor, their sons Connor and Grayson, all of Bismarck; and Michelle Bickler of Phoenix, AZ. Rose is also survived by two sisters, Julia Brossart of Grand Forks and Annie Burckhard of Minot; brother Edward (Bernadine) Jundt of Fargo; sister-in-law Barbara Jundt of Rugby; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. We are all blessed by having her in our lives and will forever hold her in our hearts.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; half-sister Elizabeth Medford; half-brothers and wives Alois (Jackie) Jundt, Anton (Eva) Jundt and Mike (Anna) Jundt; half-brother Kasmer Jundt; brother Valentine (Walter) Jundt; sister Hilda and brother-in-law Mike Axtman; brothers-in-law John Burckhard and Frank Brossart; and several nieces and nephews. 

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 11, at Little Flower Catholic Church, Rugby, with Father Thomas Graner and Father T.T. Paulraj celebrating. Burial will be at Little Flower Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, October 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. with prayers, rosary and a time for sharing of memories beginning at 7 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.