Elaine Rossow

Elaine Rossow, 82, Breckenridge, MN passed away on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Sanford Palliative Care, Fargo, ND. Funeral services will be on Thursday, May 1, at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend, ND, with Rev. Sean Daenzer officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 pm to 7 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Great Bend. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Elaine was born near Doran, MN on September 2, 1931, to Frederick and Rosa (Hestra) Wanek. She grew up and attended school in the Doran area and graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1949.

Elaine was united in marriage to Dallas Rossow on November 29, 1951 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wahpeton, ND. They moved to a farm near Great Bend, ND, where they farmed and raised their children. In 1987 they moved to a residence south of Breckenridge where she lived to the present day. She served in her church, Trinity Lutheran, as a Sunday school teacher, vacation bible school volunteer, and LWML member. For many years, she served on the Valley Lake Boys' Home Board of Directors.

While she was employed in several jobs before marriage, but her true vocation was that of a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Elaine saw to everyone else's needs and well being, and in her last years she never failed to ask, "How is everyone at your house?"

Elaine taught her family much about kindness, love, and most of all, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Her example of gratitude, and appreciation of even small things, is a gift her family will cherish and strive to emulate.

Elaine is survived by her husband, Dallas Rossow, Breckenridge; her daughter, Kim (Dan) Peterman, Peosta, IA; her sons, Tom (Donna) Rossow, Milnor, ND, and Kevin (Kerry) Rossow, Dassel, MN; her ten grandchildren; her six great-granchildren; her siblings, Lucille Korth, Breckenridge, MN, John (Sue) Wanek, Breckenridge, Evelyn (Arlyn) Spear, Fairmount, ND, Emily (Pete) Bruvold, Wahpeton, Celia Rossow, Breckenridge; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Charles Rossow, her great-grandson, Noel Rossow, her brothers, Leonard, Cecil, and Edmund Wanek, and her sister, Cecily Wanek.