Rose Marie (Pietrok) Rush was born August 21,1934 in Albany, Oregon to Andrew and Mary Pietrok. She grew up on Thomas Creek, in Linn County, Oregon. She was the oldest of six children. Her family eventually moved to Aumsville, Oregon, where her father logged and ran a saw mill.
Rose met Leroy (Bud) Rush while going to dances in Mt. Angel. They were married on May 28, 1955. They raised seven children on a small berry farm near Gervais, Oregon. Bud preceded Rose in death in 2002.
Rose attended St. Mary's Grade School in Stayton, then Stayton High School. She worked as a bookkeeper at Teague Chevrolet, starting when she was still in high school, then as a homemaker once the kids started coming. She raised her children working in their berry fields. It kept the kids busy, and (mostly) out of trouble! Once she and Bud decided to no longer raise berries (most of the children were grown), she worked in the the DeConincks' grass fields with several of her friends. After a couple of years at that, she started working at US Bank in St. Paul as a bank teller. In retirement, she and Bud enjoyed traveling by car around Oregon and the neighboring states. They both loved their grandchildren, and later, Rose loved on her great grandchildren.
Rose continued to travel, going on car trips with family, and visiting Dave and Paula and their family in Las Vegas, then San Antonio.
Rose was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church in Gervais. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, and was active in the parish. Her Catholic faith was very important to her.
Rose enjoyed sewing and needlework. She helped the St. Louis women make quilts with for the parish chicken dinners. This started a love for quilting. She made baby quilts for all of her grandchildren, and, along with help from Sandy, made quilts for them for their weddings, and for her great grandchildren.
Rose is survived by her siblings Harold and Alyce Pietrok of Stayton, Lee and Molly Hartmann, of Sherwood, and Elmer and Wilma Goodwin of Kotzebue, AK. Children: Neal and Judy Rush of Salem, Ken and Sandy Olsen of Tigard, Gary and Sue Rush, Sherry Palmer, Jack and Janet Kuenzi, all of Silverton, Steve and Shay Rush of Gervais, David and Paula Walker of San Antonio, and 25 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bud, brothers Harry Pietrok and Raymond Pietrok, sisters-in-law Elsie Pietrok, Dorothy Nolan, Lucille Case, and Roseann Cauley, Son-in-law Bernie Palmer, Grandchildren Kyle Rush and Brianne Williams.
Funeral will be February 9 at Sacred Heart Church in Gervais, OR, with rosary at 10:30 and Mass at 11:00. Interment will follow at St. Louis Cemetery, Gervais, and luncheon at Sacred Heart church hall.