Rosemary Miller

Rosemary Miller, age 93, long-time resident of Webster and Devils Lake, ND died on May 2, 2017 at Bethany Nursing Home, Fargo. Rosemary was born August 26, 1923, at home in Loretto, Tennessee to Paul and Agnes Hill Simbeck, the oldest of eleven children.  She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and was later employed at Salant Shirt Factory in Lawrenceburg, TN for over six years.  On June 4, 1949, Rosemary was united in marriage to Ralph Miller at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of rural Webster, ND, where they were members until the church closed in June 1984.  They lived and farmed in Cato Township, rural Lawton, ND until moving to Webster in March 1954 where they raised their large family.  They moved to Devils Lake in October 1997 and Ralph passed away in 2008.  Rosemary resided in Fargo the last six months of her life so she could be near her daughters. Rosemary enjoyed sewing for herself and her family and made over a hundred quilts for family and friends. She also raised a large garden to feed her family. She served as secretary or treasurer of the Webster and Starkweather PTAs, the Ladies Aid of Sts. Peter and Paul and Assumption Catholic Church, Starkweather, and served as a lector, CCD teacher and Rosary leader.  When Rosemary and Ralph moved to Devils Lake in 1997, they became members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and Rosemary was a Catholic Daughter of Court St. Mary #268. She is survived by six daughters: Ruth Swain, Reno, NV; Roberta (John) Anderson, Maple Grove, MN; Rosella Miller and Becky (Rick) Olstad, Fargo; Renee Loehr, Moorhead, MN; and Rachel (Neil) Kusler, Breckenridge, MN, daughter-in-law Patti Miller, Lakewood, CO; twelve grandchildren, some step grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, brothers Pete and Julius Simbeck, Loretto, TN, Dennis (Dorothy)  Simbeck, Hohenwald, TN, Cletus Simbeck, Kansas, City, MO; sisters-in-law Elenora Simbeck, Loretto, and Florence Retterath, Valley City, ND, as well as many nieces and nephews. Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, husband, children Bernard, Rita, Ramona, Robert and infant Regina; granddaughter Heather Swain, sons-in-law Craig Loehr and Don Quittschreiber, brothers George, Alfred and Howard Simbeck; brothers-in-law Walter, Clarence, Vernon and Cecil Miller and Wesley Retterath, sisters Hilda Zettler Tittle, Sr. Agnes Mary Simbeck and Dorothy East; sisters-in-law Mary and Marge Miller, Agnes Miller Pepoon, and Joyce and Evelyn Simbeck. Mass of Christian Burial for Rosemary will be on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with the Very Reverend C.F. Wilhelm celebrating the Mass. Rosemary will be laid to rest in the Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, rural Webster, ND. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017 at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 6:30 p.m. and time of sharing to follow. Visitation on Tuesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Reading the Scriptures will be Dennis Miller and Susan Hoffart and music will be provided by Kevin Regan and JoDee Lagein. Gift Bearers will be Andrea and Samantha Griffin and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharistic will be Rose Windjue.