Rosella "Rose" Aaby

Rosella (Rose) Alvina Aaby (Eliason), 97, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on April 13, 2018 in Gilbert, Arizona. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Zumbro Lutheran Church (624 3rd Avenue SW). Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Rose was born in Wegdahl, Minnesota on January 21, 1921 to Amanda and Jesse Eliason. She married Clifford Arleen Aaby on January, 11,1941, at East St. Olaf Church in Rock Dell, Minnesota. They lived in Viola, MN before moving to Rochester in 1957 where Rose lived until she moved to Arizona in 2014. She worked in the lunch room at John Adams Middle School and was a waitress at the Kahler Hotel. Rose was a member of Zumbro Lutheran Church in addition to a number of fraternal organizations including the Rochester Eagles Club and the American Legion. Rose volunteered at East St. Olaf and Zumbro Lutheran Churches, making and donating dozens of a family favorite; lefsa. In addition to a favorite hobby of gardening, Rose loved spending time with friends and family. She enjoyed reading, walking, dancing, playing golf, card playing, and needlepoint. Rose was preceded in death by Clifford, her husband of 68 years, brothers, Joe, Clarence, Mural, and Jesse, and sister Viola "Vi". She is survived by four sons, James (Patricia) Aaby, Pahrump, NV., Barry (Donna) Aaby, Blaine, MN., Michael (Katherine) Aaby, Marriottsville, MD., and Wynn, Lake Tahoe, NV.; two daughters, Nancy (Lyle) Hemingson, Burnsville, MN, and Debbie (Jay) Gendron, Gilbert, AZ, 11 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, Minn., 55901. (507)289-3600 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.