Rosa Benz

Funeral Mass for Rosa Benz, 96, of Killdeer, ND will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Killdeer with Father Joseph Evinger celebrating. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.

Visitation for Rosa will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 15th at Stevenson Funeral Home in Killdeer with a rosary and vigil service held at 6:00 p.m. 

Rosa passed away Sunday, February 12, 2023 at CHI St. Alexius in Dickinson with her family by her side.

Rosa Teresa Fettig was born December 27, 1926 in Killdeer, ND to Joseph J. and Rose M. (Fleck) Fettig. She grew up on the family ranch north of Killdeer, and graduated from Killdeer High School in 1944. After high school, Rosa briefly worked at the ASCS office in Killdeer. During this time, she met Harold Benz. 

Rosa married Harold on November 9, 1948 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Killdeer. They purchased the farm north of Killdeer in 1954. Rosa was very active on the farm, working side-by-side with Harold. Together they farmed and ranched there until September 1991, when she and Harold moved to Killdeer. They were blessed to have celebrated 71 years of marriage together before Harold’s passing in 2020. Rosa and Harold enjoyed camping and fishing together. They also enjoyed several trips to the National Finals Rodeo. Rosa always enjoyed hosting holidays at her house for family. 

Rosa belonged to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and was a member of the St. Joseph’s Altar Society. She was also in a Homemakers Club and Quilting Club. She loved square dancing and playing cards. She kept a journal and wrote in it daily for more than 50 years. 

Rosa was an extremely talented artist. She enjoyed drawing, painting landscapes and wildlife, and making greeting cards with colored pencils and paint. She also loved to crochet, quilt, knit, and sew. She made two of her daughters’ wedding dresses, as well as the bridesmaids’ dresses. Rosa had a green thumb with many plants of which something was always in bloom. After moving to town another pastime was feeding and watching the birds. She enjoyed being out in the yard, and mowed the lawn herself until just last summer. She was fond of her apple trees, planting three new trees recently.

Rosa is survived by her children Diane (Stan) Hausauer of Dickinson, Karen (Bill) Rafferty of Watford City, Rodney (Kathy) Benz of Dickinson, and Brian (Carolyn) Benz of Killdeer, Sandra Benz of Murrieta, CA; sister Agnes Schwalbe of Killdeer; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. 

Rosa was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Harold; parents, Joseph and Rose Fettig; siblings, Eleanor Wichser, Mary Hartman,  Dolores Higgins, and Clemens Fettig.