Rose Ellen McUne, 72

A former Bonners Ferry resident, Rose Ellen McUne, 72, of Montrose Colo., died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at Colorow Care Center in Olathe, Colo., after a two-year battle with bone cancer. 

Rose Ellen was born April 29, 1936, in Hartsel Colo., to Lloyd Homer and Dovie Goudy Fedde.  She spent most of her life in Colorado, graduating from Montrose High School in 1954.  Rose Ellen moved to Bonners Ferry in 1968, where she lived for 16 years, making many friends and working as a clerk-bookkeeper for area merchants.

In 1984, Rose Ellen moved back to Montrose, and worked for J.C. Penney until retiring in early  1989. 

After retiring, she did sewing and alterations in the Montrose area.  It was a great way to keep busy and keep on top of the town’s happenings.

Rose Ellen enjoyed family, sewing, crocheting, needlework, horses, family photos,  friends, and doing crossword  puzzles in the daily newspaper.

Rose Ellen is survived by her son, Steven Sanburg and his wife, Erin, of Bonners Ferry, their children Sunny Sanburg of Moyie Springs and Daniel Sanburg of Austin, Texas; her daughter, Janice Sanburg-Bates and her  husband Randy of Shaw Island, Wash., and their son, Adam Bates, and daughter, Virlena McUne of Denver, Colo.; sisters, Pearl Martellaro of Salida, Colo., Anna Houser of Delta, Colo., and Carol Knifer and her husband, Bill, of Colona, Colo.; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Rose Ellen was preceeded in death by her parents and brother George Homer Fedde.

Cremation arrangements were handled by Crippin Funereal Home with a scattering at Grand View Cemetery Rose Garden.  A gathering to celebrate Rose’s life was held  at the Lions Park Clubhouse  in Montrose.