Rosalie Young  danced her way to heaven Sunday at the age of 56. The Aurora-Staples Inn of Stillwater was the scene of her daughter, Olivia’s wedding, where everyone was dancing the Electric Slide to the tunes of the Twin Cities Hot Club. Rosalie took a dip that kept dipping-all the way to the floor, then she was gone. “Snuffed out like a candle,” lamented her husband, George, of 34 years. “She died surrounded by the  people she loved most, laughing and enjoying life.”

            Rosalie was born to Raymond and Donna Murphy in the midst of the oil fields in Wyoming in 1953. She spent her formative years in the Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Iowa schools which included the Luton school, an air force barracks, the Bronson elementary school and the American Legion building in Sergeant Bluff. “She never knew where she would be going for school from year to year, even though she lived in the same house!”  said her mother, Donna Murphy. The year, 1971, was a significant one to her. She graduated high school; was married; had her first daughter; became paralyzed; died; was resurrected and learned to walk again. She often commented, “It was all gravy after that year.” On New Year’s Eve of 1974, she joined Christ’s Household of Faith in St. Paul, Minnesota. For 16 years she called the commune her home. She met and married George Young and added to their union another 7 children.      Rosalie became a member of the Chisago Lakes community in 1990 when she and George found the ‘perfect place’ to raise their family of 8 children. She enjoyed coaching girls’ basketball. “I remember you,” was a comment from a young Pine City lady who approached her on a college campus visit. “I always envied the girls on your team. You made it look like so much fun.” Rosalie said that was one of the greatest compliments she ever received. Rosalie died  while trying to gain the college degree she had put on hold for so many years. Two majors were her goal: literature and holistic healing.

            Rosalie is survived by her loving husband, George; her mother, Donna Murphy of Cortez, Colo.; sister, Patricia Tilton of Stratford, Texas and  brother, Dan of St. Paul. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Alicia {Jared} Thomas of Las Vegas, Nev.; Dimitri of Shafer; Millicent {Mark} Austen of Jacksonville, Fla.; Cassandra of Felton, Calif.; Tasha {Marvin} Blumer of Shafer; Katie Olivia {Trevor} Wirtenen of Stillwater; Phoenix {Kevin} Hathaway of St. Cloud and Summer Joy. Eight grandchildren will miss this loving grandma.

            Funeral services will be on Friday at 10 a.m. at Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church in Lindstrom. Burial will follow at the Memorial Park in Forest Lake. Visitation will be at 6-8 p.m. today at the Grandstrand Funeral Home in Chisago City.