Sharon Rose

Sharon Ell Rose, a long-time resident of Hailey, ID passed away after a short illness on April 22, 2025. She was born to Frank Rose and Isabella McKeen in Bozeman, MT on September 17, 1939. The 85 years in between were filled with a keen sense of adventure, wonder and a great love of family and friends.

Sharon was on the move from a young age. Even before first grade, her family moved six times throughout Montana and Wyoming. Eventually her family, including, older sister LaRoyce and younger brother Virgil, settled in Twin Bridges where she lived for eleven years. As a teen she spent summers traveling the country with LaRoyce. They explored nearly every state camping, sleeping in the car, or even on park benches! After Sharon graduated she went to Western Montana College of Education in Dillon for a year. She and LaRoyce then continued their travels moving to Houma, LA just south of New Orleans to each teach 1st grade on the Grand Caillou Bayou. Their students spoke French, no English, which added to the challenge and the fun. They were only there one year before the unexpected death of Virgil called them back to Twin Bridges. Sharon then returned to Dillon to complete her teaching credential. Not only did Sharon love change, she thrived on challenges. With credential in hand, she moved to Sunny Slope, MT near the Canadian border, and became the sole teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. Living in the school without running water, car, tv or radio, and only an outhouse, her closest neighbors were three miles away. Even with a borrowed Chesapeake Retriever dog for company it was lonely. The next year Sharon joined her sister and fellow teacher on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation where she taught 4th grade. It was there she married Arthur "Art" Anderson who was supervising road construction for the Federal Highway Administration. They soon welcomed their daughter Jaymie and then 10.5 months later, their son Arthur "Ben". For the next few years, the family along with two Siamese cats traveled the western states, often living in a pickup camper and moving every few weeks.

After a divorce, she moved with the children back to Dillon to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Wanderlust still filled Sharon's heart, so she and the kids moved to three different towns in the next few years. When she heard they were looking for educators in the early 1980's boomtown of Colstrip, MT, Sharon became an elementary librarian for the next ten years, allowing both of her children to graduate from high school there and go off to college. She next moved to Las Vegas, NV where she was also a school librarian. She retired eight years later and was on the road again, this time, to Chapala, Mexico. In her three years there Sharon studied Spanish, volunteered in the school, the library, and made many friends. When family beckoned with the need for "granny daycare", Sharon returned to the United States, this time to Hailey, ID to help care for her granddaughters, Isabella and Olivia whom she loved dearly.

During all the years of raising children and teaching, Sharon still explored the United States but also ventured out beyond its borders: -- Bali, South Korea, Guam, South Africa, Zimbabwe, the Baltics and Russia, China, Turkey, Eastern Europe, Egypt, Columbia, Peru, Costa Rica and Ecuador-- all filled her passport. Retirement promised more adventures. She spent four months solo traveling through Europe by train. Recently she cruised both to Cyprus and Israel and from Brazil to the Canary Islands and Spain with her longtime travel partners: son Ben and friend Sue. Her last trip in November 2024 was a river cruise down the Rhine. Sharon's gift to her family and friends was her unparalleled love of exploring the world and its cultures.

While in Hailey, Sharon served as a volunteer Ombudsman for residents in long-term care facilities under the auspices of the Office on Aging. She also enjoyed reading, community events, exercise classes, and senior outings. Sharon lived longer in Hailey than any other place in her life. She very recently shared that she had finally settled and lost her urge to wander.

Sharon is survived by her son, Arthur "Ben" Anderson, daughter and son-in-law, Jaymie and Max Stimac, grand-daughter, Isabella Rose Stimac, niece and nephew Shannon and John Nelson and life-long friend Chuck Watts. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Isabella Rose, brother Virgil Rose, sister LaRoyce Nelson, and beloved grand-daughter Olivia Marie Stimac.

A service will be held on June 14th at 3:00 pm at the Hailey Cemetery with an Open House to follow at 5:00.