Marion Estella (Roethle) Roster
age 99 of St. Louis Park, passed away on September 30, 2023, from congestive heart failure, surrounded by her loving family.
Marion is survived by her five children: Mary (John) Underferth, Valerie (Leo) Martin, Robert (Monica) Roster, Laura (Davin) Ranta, Theresa (Steve) Dahl.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jason (Tammy), Daniel (Rita) & Melissa Underferth, Christiana Martin, Yavonna Ranta, Heidi (David) Pitcher & Mark Roster, and many nieces & nephews.
Marion is preceded in death by her husband of almost 49 years, Robert L. Roster; her grandson, Patrick Underferth; her parents; seven siblings (Bernice, Evelyn, Leo, Harold, Raymond, Ida & Donald) and her beloved kitty, Tennessee Titan.
Marion was born on September 5, 1924, to Laura & Ignatius Roethle, the sixth of eight children. She was born on the family farm near New Richmond, Wisconsin. She attended a one room school house through 8th grade.
In the late 1930’s, the family farm was sold & items were auctioned.
The Roethles moved to New Richmond when Marion was a freshman in high school. During her senior year, Marion worked at the local movie theater.
After graduating from New Richmond High in 1943, Marion joined the ranks of many other women working in war plants. As a “Rosie the Riveter”, she worked on B-26 Marauders aircraft at the Glen L. Martin Bomber Plant south of Omaha, Nebraska. She worked six days a week for $ .99/hr. as a riveter/bucker. After the war ended in 1945, Marion returned to New Richmond, where she found employment again at the local theater and also as a housekeeper.
At the age of 21 (1945), Marion moved to Minneapolis and worked at the Continental Baking Company until Christmas. After Christmas, she worked for a company that soldered car radios for Motorola. After that company went bankrupt, Marion worked at the Bureau of Engraving in Minneapolis, where a fellow employee, cartoonist Charles Schultz, coached her women’s softball team.
Marion met her future husband, Bob Roster, in 1946 through her sister, Ida, who was married to Bob’s brother, John.
In August of 1949, Marion & Bob married at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Minneapolis and bought a new house in St. Louis Park where they raised their five children.
Marion was a loving and dedicated wife & mother who worked & played hard. She enjoyed cooking & baking, playing her accordion, painting & drawing, sewing, puzzles, games, picnics, gardening, reading, family gatherings, rummage sales & time at her cabin. As time passed, she was blessed with eight grandchildren who benefited from her Faith, love, kindness, presence & generosity.
Once her five children were grown, Marion found time to work outside the home at part-time jobs with Bishop’s Buffet & Wendy’s.
At the age of 60, Marion learned to drive & several years later she bought herself a car.
As a life-long, faith-filled Catholic, Marion was a dedicated “prayer warrior” and fan of EWTN TV.
After Bob died in 1998, Marion continued to live in their family home for the rest of her life. Her kitty, Tennessee Titan, was her constant & loving companion for the last 16 years until his death in April 2023. She thanked God many times for the gift of Titan’s presence in her later years.
Rest in peace dear mom & grandma!
We love you forever!
Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 PM Tuesday, October 10 at the Church of St. Gabriel the Archangel, 1310 Main Street, Hopkins.
Visitation will be Monday October 9 from 4 to 8 PM, with a Rosary at 7 PM, at Gearty-Delmore Park Chapel, 3960 Wooddale Ave S. St. Louis Park, and again one hour prior to Mass Tuesday AT CHURCH.
Interment will be Wednesday, October 11 at 12:30 PM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.
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