Rose Lourdes Fagerstrom

About Rose

Rose Lourdes Fagerstrom, 90, passed away August 30, 2022, in Blackduck, MN.

Rose was born on July 19, 1932, in Guadalupita, New Mexico to Louis and Josefita, "Josie" Montoya, the third of nine children. As a child, the family moved quite frequently, and she attended grade schools in Guadalupita, Vale, South Dakota, Spearfish, SD, and Chelan, WA. Her Junior High years were spent in Manson, WA. Her freshman year of High School was spent in Mora, NM, before settling in Spokane sophomore year and graduating from Marycliff High School in 1951. While in high school, Rose worked as an au pair for a doctor which began her lifelong interest in the medical field.

Rose worked a variety of jobs after High School including being an Arthur Murray dance instructor, saving money to attend Nursing School. Enrolling in St. Joseph school of Nursing in 1955 and graduating with the class of 1958.

After graduation she worked as a nurse and attended classes at Gonzaga University, working toward a degree in nursing education.

Adventure called in 1961 and Rose accepted a nursing position in Kotzebue, Alaska, sight unseen. It was here that she met future husband Jerry. Jerry and Rose married in February 1963. Jerry transferred to the Red Lake, MN IHS hospital shortly after and Rose worked there as an RN until the birth of Kevin in 1965.

Jerry transferred to the Cass Lake Hospital and they moved to Bemidji and took up residence in their newly purchased home on Bixby Ave.

The family grew to 6 in the following years with the births of Brian, Alan, and Missy. Rose was very active in the community, involved with St. Philip’s Parish, League of Women Voters, Special Olympics, PTA, Bemidji Town and Country Club, and activities with her lifelong friends on "The Committee."

Golf became a passion, and she competed in many local tournaments and was a regular in women’s league at BT&CC. As the kids grew older and more independent, she went back to school and earned a BS in Vocational Education from BSU in 1989, and BS in Health in 1994. All this while serving on the State of Minnesota Rural Health Advisory Committee, appointed by Governor Arne Carlson in 1992.

These years also found Rose working as an Infection Control nurse at Bemidji Community Hospital, teaching at Northwest Tech, and starting the Parish Nurse program at St. Philip’s.

Rose is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Josie; Sister, Dora; Brothers, Jose, Louis (Monte), Lorenzo (Rennie), and Daniel; Husband Jerry; and beloved Grandson Abe.

She is survived by her sisters; Theresa and Barbara; Brother; Del, children; Kevin (Ginny), Brian (Missy), Alan (Kelly); Daughter; Missy, and grandchildren; Isaac, Ben, Taia, Kira, and Remy.

Rose Fagerstrom, her soul was filled with faith, family, fairways and greens.

memorial service

Funeral Services for Rose

September 7, 2022

St Philip's Catholic Church 702 Beltrami Ave NW, Bemidji, MN 56601, USA

Visitation will be held September 6 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Bemidji, MN.