Stella Juanita Rosenquist, 83, passed away on May 8th, 2025, surrounded by family at Trouvaille Memory Care with care from Grace Hospice. We want to thank her awesome caregivers for making her last days joyful and peaceful.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church (800 Waconia Parkway North) in Waconia on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:00am with Rev. Adam White as officiant. Gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the service. Lunch and fellowship following the service. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.
Stella was born April 8, 1942, 13th of 15 children to Eleanor and Elmer Kyllo in Wanamingo, MN. She was a farm girl turned dairy princess. Determined to go to Augsburg College, Stella worked her way through school at Fairview Hospital where she met and married Dr. Rudy Rosenquist on February 1st, 1964. They shared two children together raising them in Minneapolis.
Stella was a hard worker and had successful careers as an English teacher, theater director, debate and Declam coach and a salesperson for several telecom companies such as Onvoy, Sprint, AT&T, US West and MCI. Her secret to her professional success was to listen.
Stella was incredibly social. She created strong lasting friendships with her schoolmates, work colleagues and church community. She coordinated Augsburg alumni events, traveled with girlfriends, and founded an irreverent female bible study group called “The Rahab Sisters”.
She was passionate about social justice which led her to become political active. Stella hosted fundraising events, campaigned for candidates and was a delegate to the 1968 democratic convention.
Stella was a generous and compassionate person. She felt a strong call to serve God as a volunteer for Loaves and Fishes, Habitat for Humanity and more. She was a foster parent to several children (eventually adopting one of them), a sponsor for Ethiopian refugees, and the co-founder the Adopt- A- Family program. She served others without expectation.
When she retired in Arizona, Stella soon found Lord of Life Lutheran Church where she used her excellent hosting skills to serve the congregation through food and met her second love, Stew Morton. They married May 27th, 2009. Sadly, Stella began her Alzheimer's journey too soon. They moved back to MN to be closer to family help until she moved into memory care in 2022. Cancer eventually took her to the Lord.
She loved her family and friends unconditionally and celebrated every milestone and accomplishment. We will miss this devoted, demanding, hardworking, glamorous, fierce, compassionate, dedicated, joyful, funny, intelligent, gracious, organized, practical, ethical, and generous woman.
Her amazing life of service and purpose will be remembered by her family: daughter Kjersten (Will) Swanson, son Karl (Martha) Rosenquist, husband Stew Morton, her 5 grandchildren (Kate, Jack, Sam, Ollie, and Allison), her sisters Eunice Roberts, Marlene Haller and Susan Johnson, and the many nieces, nephews, and friends. She joins her parents, Rudy and siblings Palmer, Walton, Orion, Avis, Bud, Florence, Pete, Shirley, Mary Jane, Chuck, and Marna in God's embrace.
Arrangements are with the Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia. 952-442-2121 www.johnsonfh.com
