Rella Rolfes of Helena passed away early Tuesday morning October 6, 2015 at Apple Rehabilitation Nursing Home. She was 90.
Rella Narvene Nelson was born on June 30, 1925 in Denver, Colorado and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska where she attended Bancroft Elementary School and Everett High School. Her classmates gave Rella the nickname, “Jean,” based on the song, “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” and she used that nickname for much of her life. Rella was artistically talented and, while in high school, she painted a picture that was displayed in the school hallway.
In 1941, Rella moved to Manhattan, Kansas. She worked there as a waitress at the Wareham Coffee Shop. On August 14, 1945 (V-J Day), Rella married Herbert S. Rolfes. The couple settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where their three children were born. In 1957, the family moved to Slayton, Minnesota. Rella worked at the Slayton Public School cafeteria and then at the Campbell’s Soup Factory in Worthington, Minnesota. She was also a Girl Scout Troop Leader.
In 1964, Rella was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. After a year’s illness, the disease went dormant, and Rella led an active life for the next twenty-six years. She worked at the Slayton Bakery and then at the Slayton Manor Nursing Home cafeteria. Rella studied art sculpture in an evening adult education class at Slayton High School. In 1973, Rella and Herb moved to Hartford, South Dakota where, together, they operated a Standard Oil Service Station in nearby Sioux Falls. Around this time, Rella started using her given name instead of her nickname. In 1981, Rella and Herb moved to Canistota, South Dakota where they owned and operated “The Starlite Motel.” In 1984, Rella’s multiple sclerosis returned, causing some disability. In 1985, Rella and Herb retired and moved back to Hartford, South Dakota. In 1997, Rella and Herb moved to East Helena, Montana.
Rella’s disability increased, and on 1 Feb 2001, she moved into the Apple (formerly Cooney) Rehabilitation Home. While living there, she was visited by her beloved husband, Herb, every day, all day long, until Herb’s death in April 2007. They had been married for 61 years. Rella was also preceded in death by her treasured daughter, Marlene Madonna Rolfes Jump, in 2011 and by her parents, Anna Luella Murrey McKinstry Hendricks and Marvin Nelson.
Rella is survived by daughter Katherine and son-in-law Wayne Coleman of Springfield, VA; son Herbert Rolfes of Helena; son-in-law Frank Jump of Lake Forest Park, WA; grandson Matthew Coleman of Alexandria, VA; granddaughters Genevieve Coleman of Alexandria, VA and Margaret Jump of Lake Forest Park, WA; and great-granddaughters Aliyah Jump-Powell and Ava Stallings of Lake Forest Park, WA.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 28 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Harrison. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Rella’s name may be sent to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, online or at P.O. Box 4527, NY, NY 10163.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Rella.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
12:15 p.m.
Wednesday October 28, 2015
SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church
120 W Riggs
East Helena, Montana 59635
Rite of Committal
After the Mass
Wednesday October 28, 2015
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
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Christina Crowder says
I used to work at Cooney and I came to love Rella. Her passing is a great sadness to myself and my family who had all met this wonderful woman. I remember when she first came how her husband used to come have lunch with her everyday and then take her home for a bit. She was a wonderful loving individual and she will be missed.
Marie says
I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the family of Rella. Although I never had the opportunity to meet her personally, I wanted to share with you a hope regarding God’s promise of a resurrection that we will have similar to that of Lazarus at John 11. He wants us to be able to see and enjoy the company of our loved ones again in a happy, healthy condition (Isaiah 33:28) for countless generations of time. He promises a time very soon where no family will ever have to mourn the death of a loved ever again. Revelation 21:4. May God himself grant you great peace and comfort now during this grievous time.