Jean Ann Keeling Rose

Jean Ann Keeling Rose (87) passed away peacefully on May 2nd, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Villa in Salt Lake City, UT.  She was the youngest of eight children to Victoria and Harold Keeling, of Walhalla ND.

Growing up on a North Dakota farm, she developed a love for reading and an appreciation for learning and education.  Her appreciation for education led her to graduate from Valley City State Teachers College.  She started teaching close to the same time that she chose to start a family.   She had a strong conviction to her Catholic faith, and she raised her four boys with those same values and principles.  She got back into teaching much to the disappointment of her boys when she would appear in their classroom as their substitute teacher.  As her children became adults, she returned to school and earned a paralegal certificate and graduated from Westminster University with honors.

Jean Ann was strong willed and stubborn at times, but she also had an enormous heart and a keen sense of humor. She was generous, loyal, and brave. She endured many a challenge in her life and she was proud to announce she was “North Dakota Tough” after beating stage 4 colon cancer.  She was always proud of her North Dakota upbringing, and her tough spirit was a badge she wore with honor.

She will be remembered fondly as a family cheerleader for maintaining a fabric of family relationships and friendships through her threads on her iPad.  She lived vicariously through the stories and lives of all connections she shared with her family and friends.  She truly loved each of them – and if you knew her, you knew it. 

She knew this day was coming as the events of the last couple of years had greatly affected her goal to make it to 90. Living at St. Joseph’s Villa reunited her with a resident that was her former spiritual advisor as a Trappist Cistercian Monk at The Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity in Huntsville, Utah.  This reunion brought comfort and familiarity to her new home and provided much appreciated spiritual counsel again.  She had many conversations in her final months about her intentions, and accepted that this life was well lived with joy, appreciation and happiness on her terms.  When her time came, she carried herself with dignity, strength, and full of love for those who cared for her daily.

There were many (parents, siblings, friends) who preceded her in death, but none more painful than her son John Harold Rose (2001).  She is survived by three sons, Charles Rose, James Rose (Virginie) and Michael Rose (Keri), as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

The family wishes to thank the caregivers, staff and residents at St. Joseph’s Villa, the doctors, nurses and care team at Serenity Home Health, and the medical team at Vitality Health of Utah for improving her life, and perspective during these last years.

There are no immediate services planned, as she wished to return home where it all began in North Dakota, to lay close to her family.  A celebration of life and details will be shared once arrangements have been made.