Rose Marie (Stephens) Baalman died at Trios Health in Kennewick on December 1, 2015, at the age of 100.  Rose was born on a homestead north of Chinook, Montana, on November 2, 1915, to John Ferdinand and Rose Catherine (Gosmeyer) Stephens, the ninth of their twelve children.  When she was eight, she and her family moved to western Kansas where they farmed and she received her education.  It was there that she met her husband of 66 years, Raymond William Baalman, Sr.  They were married in Angelus, Kansas, on August 21, 1934.

Immediately following their wedding, the young couple moved to Denver, where their first three children were born and where Ray held a number of positions before being hired by Dupont as an electrician.  In the fall of 1943, Dupont transferred Ray to Richland to work on the Manhattan Project at Hanford.  Rose and their three children joined him in June 1944, and, over the next 14 years, Rose and Ray had three more children in Richland, which became their permanent home.

Rose was a loving wife and mother who spent endless hours cooking, baking, and running the household.  Once her last child started school, she began a career as a pathology laboratory technician in Richland, from which she retired in 1977.

Rose and Ray enjoyed life immensely.  They played bridge with many friends.  They loved golf, a passion they indulged as often as they could.  To their surprise, they once each shot a hole-in-one on the same hole in the same week!  They were also avid Mariners fans.  Another of their interests, travel, took them several times to Europe and Asia and far and wide in the U.S.  Rose and Ray were very active at Christ the King parish, to which they belonged nearly from its beginning in a tent at Camp Hanford.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; nine of her siblings; her husband Ray (2001); her son Jim Baalman (2010); her grandson Jason Baalman (1975); three granddaughters, Lisa Jones Wood (2000), Maria Brown Carter (2010), and Marlys Baalman (2013); one great granddaughter, Virginia Gantzer (2008); and her son-in-law Delbert Brown (2015).  She is survived by her children Darleene Brown (Kirkland), Barbara (and Kip) Jones (Richland), Ray (and Betsy) Baalman (Pasco), John (and Deanna) Baalman (West Richland), and Richard (and Debbie) Baalman (Kennewick); and her daughter-in-law Patti Baalman (Montana).  She also leaves behind two sisters Lillian Williams (New Jersey) and Rita Gibson (California), eight grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.

Rose’s extremely active days came to an abrupt halt some 11 years ago when a back surgery went awry, leaving her confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.  Rose faced this adversity with courage, grace, and determination.  In spite of several years of intense physical therapy she was never able to stand or walk on her own again, but she bore this misfortune with no complaints.  Her positive attitude toward life was an inspiration to all who knew her. 

Rose’s family wishes to thank Life Care of Richland and Dr. Jimmy Chua for their wonderful attention to her during this past year.

Rose will be greatly missed.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held at Christ the King Church in Richland on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at 1:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Rose’s name to Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School in Pasco, or to the charity of your choice.