Rosemary (Balk) Lovett

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Lovett, Rosemary Balk February 24, 1924- May 19, 2018 Rosemary Anne Balk was born in St. Lucas, Iowa, on February 24, 1924, the second of seven children of Philip Ulrich Balk and Agnes Catherine Greteman. She grew up in the small town of Waucoma in northeastern Iowa. Rosemary excelled in school, graduating as salutatorian of her high school class (out of 10 students, she would point out). She graduated from the College of St. Catherine in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she majored in food science. After graduation, she worked in Minneapolis as a food scientist at Pillsbury where she helped develop the first cake mixes and pie crusts. In 1947, she married Thomas George Lovett. In 1953, Tom and Rosemary Lovett moved their growing family to a new house in Richfield. During those years Rosemary was a busy homemaker following the many sports and music activities of her six children, sewing, and baking State Fair prize-winning cookies and cakes. Those stopping by to visit never left without a cookie or two and conversation. For the four years before her husband's death in 2014, she served as his full-time caregiver. In the years after his death she continued to live independently in her home, finding joy in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and neighbors. She is survived by her six children: Michael (Sylvia), Thomas (Annemarie), Rick (Carol), Joe (Kim), Shawn (Lynn), & Mary Susan; sixteen grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren; her brother, Tom (Sue) Balk and sister-in-law Kathleen Mackenzie; Candace Lovett, and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas George Lovett, and her sisters Suzanne Kretzschmar and Phyllis Finnelly. Visitation will be 4-7 PM on Tuesday, May 29 at Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel at 6527 Portland Avenue in Richfield, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 30 at the Church of St. Peter, 6730 Nicollet Avenue Richfield. Family will greet friends from 9:30 AM until the Mass at the Church. Memorials preferred to the Church of St. Peter (Richfield) Endowment Fund. Morris Nilsen Chapel 612 869-3226 morrisnilsen.com

Published on May 27, 2018