January 1, 1927 - July 13, 2023
Rose was born at home on January 1, 1927, the 5th of 6 children of John Frederick Rehberg and Mary Helena Zettler Rehberg, in Hartford, South Dakota. She attended Washington High School in Sioux Falls, SD, where she was on the debate team and in the band. She wanted to be in the band so much that she took the only instrument left to use, the tuba.
When her parents left for California, Rose stayed to finish high school in SD, living for a time with her brother, Clarence, and later with her sister, Gwenoeth, and her growing family. Rose loved all the children and became very close to them. She graduated in 1944 and moved to Stockton, California, to be with her parents.
Rose met Robert Lloyd Grant at a dance in Stockton when she was 18 and he was 23. Robert "Bob" was an Ensign in the US Merchant Marines and was in Stockton while his ship was undergoing maintenance. They became engaged within a few months, just before he sailed again. He was gone a year and they wrote to each other every day, labeling each envelope with a number so they could read them in order when they arrived, often in a bundle. Meanwhile, Rose worked as a window dresser at a Montgomery Ward department store. She later worked at the Sterling department store. Her mother made her wedding dress out of silk fabric sent by Bob from China, and there was enough to later make a baptismal ensemble with hand-made lace. Rose and Bob were married October 27, 1946 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton, with her younger sister, Ruth, as her Maid of Honor.
Rose and Bob drove to Canada on their honeymoon, even rolling their car in soft snow on the way but there was no damage. In Calgary, Alberta, Rose met Bob’s parents for the first time. They drove to Vancouver to meet his brothers, decided to stay, and bought a home there as well as a photography studio. They stayed about a year before moving back to Stockton. Rose and Bob were very close to Rose’s parents, siblings and their families, and had great times together as their families grew. Every other year they drove to Canada to visit Bob’s mother and siblings.
Rose and Bob welcomed son Richard “Ricky” in 1955, and daughter Carol in 1957, completing their family. As the children got older, Rose started working for the local school district, going from an elementary school yard supervisor, to high school language lab technician, and later to an attendance office clerk at Lincoln High School. She always walked to work. The ladies in the attendance office became very good friends. She retired from LHS but later took a job as an operator at Pacific Bell.
After Bob passed away in 1993, Rose was left bereft but decided she would live her life as best she could. For the first time, she started driving out of town. She became an avid traveler, with either her sister-in-law Irola Rehberg, or her brother-in-law Frank Grant, as a companion. She saw many places in the US, as well as Europe, Greenland, Iceland, and Asia. A Caribbean cruise in 2004 with Rick and Carol’s families and Frank was a true highlight for everyone.
Rose was always involved with family, enjoying life as her children became adults and had their own children. She passed away peacefully at the family home on July 13, 2023, after a happy and active life lived during 96 wonderful years.
She is survived by her son, Rick (Pam) and daughter, Carol (Brian), 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
All of her siblings preceded her in death, Gwenoeth, John, Lyle, Clarence, and Ruth.
SERVICES:
A memorial mass will be held at 11:30 AM September 9, 2023 at Cherokee Memorial Park and Cemetery in Lodi, California, in the Evergreen Chapel.
A reception follows.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Grant family.
Please leave your condolences below.