Rosemary Then

Rosemary Then, 86, of Willmar, died April 3, 2012, surrounded by her loving family following a battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar (713 12th St. SW). Interment will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar (www.petersonbrothers.com).

Rosemary was born on May 28, 1925 to John and Rose (Sanoski) Fedor in Flensburg, Minnesota. She grew up, skipped grades, and became a teacher in St. Stephen, Minnesota. She married Theodore "Ted" Then after the end of World War II. After the war, they lived in Saint Cloud, Sauk Centre, Alexandria, and then Willmar for many years. She frequented the Willmar Library to feed her reading habit, and sewing and craft stores. She was an excellent cook and made use of her great garden. She was famous for her potato donuts and poppy seed bread. She helped Ted take his lapidary hobby to an art form. She encouraged her children to strive for an education, work hard, save their money, and believe in God. Rosemary's last three years were spent with her daughter, Sharon, in Brooklyn Park because of illness.

She is survived by four children: Sharon Then of Brooklyn Park; Ronald Then, married to Janelle, of Buffalo and their children Ashley, Stephanie, and Kyle; Michelle Then-Day, married to Duane Day, of New London and their children, Christopher Day, and Eric Day and his wife Sommer with kids, Spencer and Bailey; and Lori Rodgers of Monticello and her daughters, Amanda and Brianna. Rosemary is also survived by her sister, Jeanette and husband Frank Ferche of Sartell; and her brother, Jerome Fedor and wife Annette of Little Falls; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband: Ted; and two sisters: Joyce Marie Fedor and Ursula Fedor.