Momma put on her dancing shoes and fox-trotted her way to heaven! Born in snowy McCabe, Montana to Chris and Esther Jensen, she was one of six children. She moved to Portland, Oregon and met the handsome love of her life, Leonard Bennett. They settled in the Tri-Cities in 1952, bringing their two daughters Kathi and JoAnne, where they found lots of opportunities for work. Momma eventually worked as a grocery cashier at Stones & Mayfair where she loved meeting people and was proud to be part of the union negotiating committee to secure higher wages and better working conditions. When daddy retired, they became active members of Rambling Rovers and enjoyed traveling.

Momma loved her family and friends and devoted her life to her six grandkids and counted them among her greatest blessings. She loved and nurtured each of them as they grew to adulthood. There was only one Gramma Rose! Grandchildren include Eric, Katie, Kelsie, Lahn, Ryan and Renee and great-grandchildren Trinity, Devvon, Makayla, Soren and her new great-grandbaby girl due in August/September. Their visits to her house included baking cookies, working in the garden, making jam, canning peaches, and playing in leaves. When the dinner dishes were done, she was busy sewing, playing pinochle and cribbage, crocheting, gardening, or creating a new crewel and embroidery masterpiece.

Mom loved life and fought hard to enjoy every day to its fullest. She loved listening to the birds sing, watching the squirrels at play, baking her famous "Roses Rolls", making her secret fudge and collecting recipes. She was very proud of her Danish/Swedish heritage and passed on her aebelskiver recipe lovingly for generations to come. If you knew Rose, your life was richer. Those piercing blue eyes always twinkled and she could light up a room with just a smile. We are thankful for the gift of life that she shared. We appreciate her zest, her common sense, and her independence. She was our best friend and is busy hugging and laughing with our other angels in heaven. We miss you Momma. We will carry you in our hearts and souls forever. The world was graced by your beauty and presence. Thanks for giving us you.

Rose is survived by her daughters JoAnne DeMand and Kathi and Vern Madson; grandchildren Eric and Michelle Madson, Katie Holand, Lahn DeMand, Ryan DeMand and Renee and Jim Salmi; great-grandchildren Soren Salmi and Trinity, Devvon and Makayla DeMand; as well as many nieces, nephews and her sister Dagney. Mom is preceded in passing by her husband of 53 years, Leonard Bennett, her granddaughter Kelsie Madson, brothers and sisters Arnold, Chet, Doris, Freda and her parents.

A celebration of her life will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, July 2, 2011 at Einan's Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland, WA on the By-Pass Highway.