Bobette "Bobby" Reading Rose

Bobette Reading Rose was born on January 17, 1941 in Midvale, Utah, to Harold and Mamie Reading. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family, Friday, March 11, 2022. She was the second oldest of seven children, six girls and one boy. They moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska when she was young where she grew up taking dancing lessons and learning to play the piano and organ. She became an accompanist at her church by the age of 14 and would continue that service for the next 60 years. As a teen she checked groceries and ran the soda fountain at her father’s grocery store, Town and Country Market. She also worked at the Midwest Theater as an Usher and Candy Case worker. While at Scottsbluff High, she was a Cheerleader, and she played clarinet and oboe in the band. She graduated in the Class of 1959 and remained close with her classmates throughout her life. She loved her siblings deeply and was so proud of being raised in a large, close knit family.

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After graduation, she attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and she began teaching school at Longfellow Elementary in Scottsbluff, NE. She married Leland George “Bill” Rose on her 23rd birthday, January 17, 1964, and then taught school for an additional year before they started their family.

William Lee “Billy” Rose, was born in 1966, followed by a daughter, Kerri Rose, in 1967. Their third child, Steven Alan Rose was stillborn in 1970, one of her greatest heartaches; however, she was blessed with a grandson on that same day 29 years later. Bobette was a wonderful mother to her two children. After Scottsbluff, the Rose’s moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, then to Billings, Montana, then to Portland, Oregon. Bobette and Bill later divorced but always remained friends.

In 1988, Bobette settled in Taylorsville, Utah, and began teaching 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades, one year at Southland Elementary and 17 years at Jordan Ridge Elementary. She retired, then went back to teaching part-time an additional seven years as a Math Specialist. She was known for her AlgeBrain classes which she taught early in the morning helping many students enhance their math skills. She received several “Teacher of the Year” awards and letters from former students describing her as their “Most Influential Teacher.” Bobette also taught Teacher Inservice Math Classes. We estimate that she taught nearly 1000 children in her 28 year career. She officially retired from teaching in 2014 and moved to Star, ID in 2015 to be close to her daughter.

Bobette was a painter, a poet, a cook, a gardener, a dancer, a genealogist, a decorator, an organizer and an incredible record keeper. Bobette was a fifth generation member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a strong testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and his Infinite Atonement, and she exemplified His teachings throughout her life. She served in many leadership roles for her Church including, Primary President, Young Women’s President, Relief Society President, and Stake Relief Society President. She used her teaching abilities in many other callings that benefitted the lives of others. Bobette will be remembered for her unmatched generosity and her servant’s heart; Bobette will also be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor.

Above all, Bobette loved being a mother and a grandmother, and a great grandmother. Bobette is survived by her two children: William Lee “Bill” Rose (Angela) and Kerri Rose Macdonald (Rick); her five sisters: Carolee Marker (Richard), Kathie Bates (Max), Pamela McKinney (Marlin), Boni Carrell, and Debby Dayton (John); her brother: Duane Reading (Sue); her eight grandchildren: Taryn Rose Virgi (Nico), Parker Rose (Bethani), Brock Rose (Rebecca), Hannah Rose (Ben Rowland), Haley Johnson (Tysen), Payton Macdonald, Ryley Macdonald, and Wyatt Macdonald; and 5 great grandchildren: Millie and If it is to be, It is up to me. -William Johnson Penny Rose (Parker), Georgia Rose (Brock), and Shiloh and Colby Johnson (Haley), and her beloved dog: Suzy Q, as well as many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Bobette is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Mamie Reading, her former husband, Leland Rose, her son, Steven Rose, her great grandson, Jossi Rose (Parker), and her brothers in law, Doug Carroll (Boni), and David Dayton (Debby).

As Bobette knew her days were drawing to an end, she asked that her obituary include that she died of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It is a disease affecting motor neurons of the spinal cord which causes progressive weakness and atrophy of muscles and has absolutely no cure. She was blessed in her great care, but she was well aware that many people with her same disease are not as fortunate. Her request was to help bring awareness to this dreadful disease and to help those who suffer from it and to help to find a cure. She asked that her power wheelchair and all of her assistive equipment be donated to the local ALS Loaner Closet to help those in need, and also that in lieu of flowers, all donations on her behalf be made to the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter (https://www.als.org/evergreen), or to the Steve Gleason Foundation (https://teamgleason.org/) both wonderful organizations. Bobette chose to be cremated and will be laid to rest in Scottsbluff, Nebraska at Fairview Cemetery.

A public Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held in Bobette’s honor on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 11:00 am at the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1327 W 5550 S, Taylorsville, UT 84123. A Visitation will be held at 10:00 am in the Relief Society Room, and Organ Prelude to honor Bobette’s 60 years of church service as an Organist will begin around 10:35 am in the Chapel. Inurnment and Graveside Prayer Service will be held Monday, April 25, 2022 at 11:00 am at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.