Rose A. Saunders, age 81, of Maple Lake, formerly of Bloomington, died Saturday, November 19, 2016 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

     Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake with Pastor Jerry Albert officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday. Burial will be held at 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Wright County Historical Society or donor’s choice.

     Rose Ann Saunders was born January 8, 1935 in Sargent County, North Dakota to Peter and Mathilda (Lundquist) Russell. Rose grew up near Cogswell, where she graduated from high school in 1953. On June 11, 1954, Rose was united in marriage to Jerald Allen Saunders in Cogswell, North Dakota. Rose and Jerry moved to Bloomington where she worked various jobs while raising their family. Rose was a gifted artist, especially when it came to painting with watercolors and oils. She was an excellent seamstress as well as a phenomenal cook. She was also a collector of fine antiques. With Rose having a keen eye for details, she also ran her business of Petals of the Past in which she created matting and picture frame keepsake pieces of art. Rose spent countless hours researching her family genealogy and was eager to share the many interesting facts she was able to discover about her ancestors. Rose truly treasured the time she was able to spend with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

     Rose is survived by her husband of 62 years, Jerry of Maple Lake; children, Pamela Saunders of Savage, Rusty (Linda) Saunders of Washington, MO, Lori (Dan) Foss of Chaska, and Daniel Saunders of Minnetonka; grandchildren, Alicia, Andrew and Joseph Saunders, Jeremy Hurley, Jacqueline Dudley, Jon (Julia) Selleys, Evan (Jessica) Schnur and Kyla Nieder ;  great grandchildren, Marshall and Natalie Selleys and Emmett Schnur; son-in-law, Vince Dudley of Apple Valley; brother, Clyde Gullickson of Edgemont, SD; brother-in-law, James Patterson of California; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Rose was preceded in death by her daughter Susan Dudley, daughter-in-law Sandy Saunders, son-in-law Tom Selleys, parents, Peter Russell and Mathilda Hanson, step-father Sig Hanson, brothers Lester and Dean Gullickson and Elvin Russell, and sisters Maxine Patterson and Stella Shelton.

     Andrew Joseph, Rusty, and Dan Saunders, Jeremy Hurley and Jon Selleys will serve as pallbearers. Sarah Goelz will provide music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.

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