Rose Marie (Grothe) Monson

Rose Marie Monson, age 88, of Glenwood, died peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Glenwood Retirement Village surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 3rd at All Saint's Chapel in Glenwood Retirement Village with Rev. Brenda Boogren officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery in the spring. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood. 

Rose Marie "Rosie" Monson, was born to Walter Frederick and Elsie Clara (Herrmann) Grothe on September 29, 1937, in Benson, MN. She was the cherished youngest sibling among six in a lively household. Her early years were spent on the family farm in Swift County. She attended Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson and graduated from Benson High School in 1956, after which she completed a year of teacher’s college at Moorhead State University.  On May 31, 1959, she was united in marriage to James “Jim” Carroll Monson, whom she’d met at a dance at Lakeside Ballroom early that year. Their union was a testament to love and partnership, graced with three wonderful children: James Jr. "Jim," Scott, and Deborah.

The Monson family journeyed through life together, creating homes in various Minnesota towns, from the farmlands of Sunburg to the bustling cities of Minneapolis and Bloomington, and finally settling in Lowry in 1973. While living in the Twin Cities, Rosie worked as a bookkeeper for Fingerhut and Movkerson Oldsmobile. After moving to Lowry, she was employed as a cook for 27 years at Glacial Ridge Hospital before her well-deserved retirement. It wasn’t long thereafter that her son, Jim, recruited her to help out in the kitchen at New Visions in Alexandria, where he was employed. Rose worked there for five years and said that was her favorite job of all.

Rosie's Christian faith was the cornerstone of her existence, guiding her through life's trials and triumphs, especially the death of her beloved husband Jim in 2009 and her son Scott in 2018. She found joy in tending and caring for her vegetable and flower gardens and the simple pleasures of reading and baking. Her cookies were legendary, a testament to her skill and the love she poured into every batch.

Rosie passed away peacefully on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Glenwood Retirement Village, surrounded by family.

Rosie’s sense of humor, thoughtful nature, and her love for her family was the rhythm of her heart. Her legacy will live on through her children, James (Bonnie) Monson of Garfield and Deborah (Ron) Johnson of Glenwood; her adored grandchildren, Matt (Alex Nord) Monson, Mike (Ashley Peterson) Monson, Pat (Courtney) Killacky, Billy Killacky, Sean (Tara Patton) Killacky, and Alisha (Kenny) Armstrong; and her treasured great-grandchildren, Decklin, Brody, Briggs, Jupiter, Riggs, Atalie, Wren, and Myles.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Elsie Grothe, her husband, James in 2009; her son, Scott in 2018; and her two sisters, Dorthea Nelson and Elsie Danielson; and three brothers, Walter, Robert, and August Grothe.

Rosie’s life was a tapestry woven with love, laughter, and the golden threads of family and faith. Her story is a beautiful narrative of a life well-lived by a woman who loved well and was in turn well-loved.

Rosie’s family wishes to thank the entire staff at Glenwood Retirement Village for the excellent care that Rosie received while a resident and Glacial Ridge Hospice for the compassionate, dignified, and supportive care they provided in Rosie’s last days.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.