Rose Horton

Rose Elisabeth Horton was born April 21, 1916 in Sleepy Eye the daughter of Henry Johanna (Dumke) Voelker. In 1934 she graduated from Sleepy Eye High School and continued on one year in teacher's training. In 1936 Rose began teaching at Mt. Lake. Rose also taught in the ensuing years Hanska, Sleepy Eye Arlington. On August 31st, 1941 she wed Byron Clinton Horton at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. They made their first home on the Horton Homestead in Glencoe. At some point during World War II, Rose received a Man and a Half Award, as she was a teacher and farming with her husband. They bought a farm and moved into McLeod County before 1949. In 1968, after many years of raising a family, Rose went back to teaching in a country school near New Ulm. Later Rose took classes and graduated from Mankato State with a second teaching degree at the age of 57! She moved back to Sleepy Eye, bought a house, and found a new teaching post at Japanese Martyrs School in Leavenworth, MN. Rose was the 5th and 6th grade teacher, as well as being the principal. Rose was a member of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church when young and recently again, plus was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe and the Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Ulm. After Rose retired from teaching, she worked as the Museum Coordinator to restore the Sleepy Eye Train Depot and on the side was in about 8 other groups, many on the board! One of Rose's hidden passions was poetry. She tried to get a lot of them published but only a few made it to local/business papers. In August of 1994, Rose had to sell her home and move to the Sleepy Care Center. There she stayed active for many years; most notably being nicknamed The Roving Reporter, announcing the activities, agenda, menu, etc. for the day. In 2001 Rose was recognized as the Resident Volunteer of the Year. Rose E. Horton, 91, of Sleepy Eye, MN died on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Sleepy Eye Care Center. Some of her closest family has passed away. Her husband passed away December 22nd, 1980 and her son March 31st, 2001 and siblings: Ruth (Maynard) Andersen, Henry/Hank Voelker, Esther (Andrew) Teschendorf, Alice (Orrien/Curly) Christiensen, William/Bill (Grace) Volker and (Lester) Haas. Survivors include: daughter-in-law Doreen Horton, daughter Barbara (Charles) Dickson; four grandchildren: Pam Horton, Tamra (Matthew) Dickson Prior, Wade (Tiffany) Horton, Dana Dickson; four great grandchildren: Ben Lohse, Angie Lohse, Teddi Jo Grego, Jack Horton one Horton on the way, plus sister Florence/Fran Haas. Many nieces and nephews have also had a big place in her heart.