Rose Marie Bethel, 74, of Montgomery City, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis . She crossed paths with many people and each and every person came to love her. Rose never knew a stranger nor did she pass up an opportunity to celebrate gains with her family and friends and to be a shoulder to cry on during losses. Rose was born on July 21, 1944, in St. Louis, daughter to Thomas and Beatrice (Babe) Cunningham. Rose was a 1962 graduate of Montgomery County R-II High School in Montgomery City. On July 21, 1962, she was united in marriage to Galen Stuart Bethel at Immaculate Conception Church in Montgomery City.

Rose's early career included retail work at JC Penney and Sears as well as working with young children at a local Head Start program. After raising five children, Rose completed her education in nursing, then used her well-earned degree at Columbia Orthopedics. As her husband Galen would say, the couple took "working vacations" in Estes Park, Colorado, where Rose at the Rocky Mountain Gateway Visitor Center at Rocky Mountain National Park.

In addition to working, she enjoyed taking, printing, gathering and sharing photographs, camping, hiking, and, perhaps above all, Rose enjoyed every moment of time spent with her beloved husband. During retirement, Rose and her husband pursued their passion for travel by residing in Florida as well as in Colorado and returning to their home in Montgomery City in between. Rose held the Catholic Church dear to her heart and participated alongside her husband in TEC retreats.

Rose is survived by her five children, Timothy Bethel and his wife Sandy of Montgomery City, Bobbette Tucker and her husband Rick of Montgomery City, Beatrice Koenigsfeld and her husband Glen of Walford, Iowa, Noah Bethel and his wife Melissa of Tampa, Florida, and Thomas Bethel of Kansas City; 14 grandchildren, Carolyn (Cam) Boschenreither, Renee Bethel, Tyler (Stephanie) Haberstock, Erika (Tony) McCray, Cody (Jen) Tucker, Bridget (Derek) Otto, Marcy Koenigsfeld, Chloe, Sydney, Noah T. and Gracie Bethel, Ashley (Warren) Bodner, Dalas and Aden Bethel; 10 great-grandchildren, Athena, Emma, Sereniti, Theo, Junior, Gabriel, Nathan, Luke, Oliver and Camden; two brothers, William (Judy) Cunningham of Montgomery City and Mike (Kathy) Cunningham of New Florence; five brothers-in-law, Joseph (Barb) Bethel of New Florence, Les (Stevie) Bethel of Aurora, Illinois, David (Janis) Bethel of Columbia, Charles (Lola) Bethel of Beckley, West Virginia, and Donnie (Lisa) Bethel of Montgomery City; and two sisters-in-law, Ellen (Gerald) Schindler of New Florence and Kathy (Neil) Mohrman of Jefferson City.

In addition to her spouse of 55 years, Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Beatrice Cunningham; in-laws, Richard and Lorraine Bethel and brother, Joseph Cunningham.

Visitation was held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Friday, June 7, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Montgomery City, Missouri, followed by the funeral Mass with Fr. Augustine as celebrant along with Msgr. Greg Higley and Fr. Daniel Merz assisting. Burial was in St. Mary's cemetery in Montgomery City. Memorial donations may be made to the Montgomery County Cancer Supporters and the Helen Reagan Cancer Fund. All may be sent in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361.

Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City is handling the arrangements.