Rose Ella Behrend

Rose Ella Behrend was born Oct. 31, 1934, to Philip and Mae Belle (Cobb) Behrend in Custer, S.D. She passed away Jan. 16, 2024, in Longview, Wash.

Rose Ella moved with her family from South Dakota to Oregon in 1937.  After about a year there, the family moved to McCleary, Wash., in 1938. She attended grade school in McCleary and graduated from Elma High School in 1952.  After graduation, she worked about 5 years in a Washington State office in Olympia.

In 1957, Rose Ella began working as a minister sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ for nearly 30 years. In 1986, she dedicated herself to caring for her parents during their last days. After they passed she stayed in their home to care for an elder aunt. Then Rose Ella cared for her older sister for awhile.

She was a professional seamstress, a faithful correspondent with friends and family, and kept a beautiful collection of poems. In 2003, she moved to Longview and enjoyed good times with cousins and friends there.

She lived at Delaware Plaza Assisted Living and her last days were at Canterbury Gardens Memory Care in Longview.

Rose Ella was preceded in death by her parents, and her older sister, Phyllis Kirby.  She is survived by a sister,  Nadine Behrend, and many cousins and friends.