It is with a sad heart that we announce the passing of our beautiful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Rose Marie Mackelprang Olsen. Rose was born on November 20, 1925 in Glendale, Utah to Charles C. Anderson and Lieuwen Spencer. She passed away on January 21, 2021 in St. George, Utah at the age of 95 years.

Rose met her husband, Gayneld Mackelprang, when she was 14 years old. After he served a mission in Canada they were married on May 5, 1944 in the Salt Lake City Temple. She was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many church callings during her life. After she and Gayneld married they lived in Kanab, UT, Provo, UT, and Santa Ana, CA. They then settled in Fredonia, AZ and raised their family there. Gayneld was the Fredonia School Superintendent and Rose was a great support to him in his position. They led a happy life together busy with family, church, and school. In 1964 Gayneld was told he had acute leukemia and died suddenly at the VA hospital in Salt Lake City. They had 6 children at the time, and Rose was pregnant with her 7th child who was born 6 weeks later. Although it was a difficult time for her, she continued to be focused on being a very giving and loving Mother. She taught her children how to work hard and to do well in all they did. She always encouraged them to stay close to the gospel. She was proud of her children and supported them in their accomplishments and their trials. She was a woman of faith with a strong testimony and often shared with her family small miracles that had occurred in her life. She sacrificed a lot in her life for her family. As her children grew and started leaving home, she worked at the Motor Vehicle Department for 16 years. She married Donald Olsen later in life, who passed away in 2016. They served a Family History Mission in Salt Lake City.

Rose was a kind, generous, and loving woman who shared her time and talents freely. She had a sharp mind and memory her whole life, and loved to tell her family stories and memories about her life. She lived a full life. Although she will be missed here on earth, Heaven is rejoicing at the reunion she is having with her eternal companion, Gayneld, and her parents and siblings. Mom – you will always be in our hearts and we love you dearly.

Rose grew up in a loving home, and is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings: Keith Anderson, Kent Anderson, Pauline Rider, and LDean Anderson; her husbands Gayneld Mackelprang and Donald Olsen; and grandson Matthew Mackelprang. She is survived by her 7 children: Sandra (Lynn) Larson, Dale (Babs) Mackelprang, Diana (Mike) Riggs, Hazel (Greg) Honey, Van (Jamie) Mackelprang, Lee Mackelprang, Mark (Hope) Mackelprang; 26 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and her sister Barbara Olson.

The family would like to thank Adrianna, Pauline, Rachel, and all those at the Meadows Care Center in St. George, UT who cared for Rose. She knew you loved her.

There will be a graveside Memorial Service at the Fredonia Cemetery on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 3 p.m. Arrangements were made with Mosdell Mortuary of Kanab.

There is a zoom meeting link for the graveside that will be live at 3 pm on Wednesday.

https://zoom.us/j/93742375077?pwd=TWlOajhqamxrMlRxRVByaWNYVmFDQT09