Rosella B. Runyan (Behrends)
March 26, 1922 — October 15, 2010
Rosella B. Runyan, 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, October 15, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center. Services: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Randy Kasch. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, October 18, 2010, at the funeral home. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Carol Sansenbach, Gary (Janet) Runyan, all of Cedar Rapids, Craig Runyan of Hiawatha, and Deb (Chet) Abernathey of Cedar Rapids; stepchild, Dana (Angelo) Tonelli of Waukee; 14 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; stepson, Ronald Runyan; sister, Byrdena Lightfoot; and brothers, Lewis Behrends and her twin Raymond Behrends.
Rosella was born March 26, 1922, the daughter of Frederick and Anna (Schlemmer) Behrends, in Monticello, Iowa. A 1940 Monticello High School graduate, she married Marvin Steinford, on October 21, 1943. He died during World War II. Rosella returned to Vinton where she worked as a telephone operator. On April 6, 1953, she married Howard W. Runyan in Quincy, Illinois. The couple lived in Vinton where they raised their children. Howard died in June, 1970. In 2009, Rosella moved to Keystone Place in Cedar Rapids. She loved to go to garage sales and shop. Rosella was a collector of Anchor Hocking glassware.
Memorials may be directed to Mercy Hospice in memory of Rosella.
Survivors include her children, Carol Sansenbach, Gary (Janet) Runyan, all of Cedar Rapids, Craig Runyan of Hiawatha, and Deb (Chet) Abernathey of Cedar Rapids; stepchild, Dana (Angelo) Tonelli of Waukee; 14 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; stepson, Ronald Runyan; sister, Byrdena Lightfoot; and brothers, Lewis Behrends and her twin Raymond Behrends.
Rosella was born March 26, 1922, the daughter of Frederick and Anna (Schlemmer) Behrends, in Monticello, Iowa. A 1940 Monticello High School graduate, she married Marvin Steinford, on October 21, 1943. He died during World War II. Rosella returned to Vinton where she worked as a telephone operator. On April 6, 1953, she married Howard W. Runyan in Quincy, Illinois. The couple lived in Vinton where they raised their children. Howard died in June, 1970. In 2009, Rosella moved to Keystone Place in Cedar Rapids. She loved to go to garage sales and shop. Rosella was a collector of Anchor Hocking glassware.
Memorials may be directed to Mercy Hospice in memory of Rosella.
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