Rose Rush

IRON MOUNTAIN - Rose A. (Hansen) Rush, 92, of Iron Mountain, entered eternal life on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, surrounded by her family at Hyland Nursing Home. She was born on May 31, 1914, to Sicilian immigrant parents, Jake and Angela (Coraci) Libassi in Long Lake, Wis. She grew up on a farm and attended school in Breed, Wis. In her youth, she was an accomplished pianist, and with her brother and sister often performed in the Suring area. Rose married Leonard Hansen in Suring in 1933. In 1943, they moved their family to Kingsford. Rose worked as a waitress in the area for many years, and was a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. In 1956, she married Earl Bennett and was very fond of his children, Carol Heidenreich of Iron Mountain and Frank Bennett of Gaylord, whom she always held close to her heart. After moving to Albuquerque, where she lived and worked for 20 years, she returned to Iron Mountain in 1985 and lived at Hulst Manor. Rose is survived by two sons, Noel (Carol) Hansen of Grafton, Wis. and Alan (Darlene) Hansen of Breitung Township; three daughters, Lola (Ronald) Johnson of Kingsford, Nina (Walt) Strand of Iron Mountain, and Mary (Michael) Lowe of Coos Bay, Ore.; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews In addition to her parents, three brothers, and two sisters, she was preceded in death by a son, Gale Hansen, who died tragically in a boating accident in 1960. The loss of her son broke her heart, and she never fully recovered, though she always maintained a loving relationship with his widow, Jean Lehto (Jim) West. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. The funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the church. Rev. Stephen Cowen will officiate. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in her memory. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Rose A. Rush online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home with the arrangements.