Rosamary A. Borton

Rosamary Ann Borton, age 91, passed away on March 25, 2022.  Rosamary was born October 8, 1930, the daughter of Carl Reuther and Gertrude Velte Reuther of Woodland, Michigan.  She grew up a farm girl and loved to brag that she could drive a tractor and toss a bale of hay just as good as any farm boy.  As a 1948 graduate of Woodland High School, she first worked in the offices of E. W. Bliss, where she met Donald R. Borton.

On June 27, 1951, she and Don were joined in a marriage that lasted 55 years.  They purchased a farm west of Hastings on Biddle Rd., sharing the farming duties while Don worked full time at FlexFab. Two children were born, Stephen and Carol.  Rosamary earned income by crocheting and knitting baby sweaters, hats, and booties, which she sold to department stores in Grand Rapids.  She also served as a Cub Scout Den Mother.  In 1964, Rosamary and Don became the owners of Northview Grocery on Gun Lake Rd.  Together they remodeled this old country store, turning it into a modern convenience store/gas station. They ran the store successfully for 11 years, with Rosamary becoming famous for her flower arranging.  After selling the business, Rosamary worked part-time, at C&B Discount for 13 years, then Felpausch Food Center for 11 years.  Rosamary and Don did a great deal of traveling.  They went to upper Michigan, Florida and Las Vegas many times, plus trips to Utah.  After Don's death, she spent several winters with Stephen in Utah, Dennis in Howell, and visited step-son Ross in Florida.  She endured a heartbreaking time, providing care for daughter Carol, who died of cancer.  When she could not travel anymore, she moved into Cornerstone Living Center, where the staff took great care of her.

Rosamary was a member of the Methodist Church, as a child in Woodland and as adult in Hastings.

Two things you could count on at Rosamary's was being served one of her famous casseroles or a big batch of fried fish.  Fishing was a true passion with her.  She was expert at fileting and cooking the fish she caught herself.  She served up the best sunfish, bluegill, bass, and perch you ever had.  Often, she would send you home with a cooler of more fish to have later.

Rosamary's other great passion was her flower gardens.  On any warm day, you were likely to find her outside with her flower gardens.  Even at age 89, she still could be found out on her garden tractor or pulling weeds in the flower beds.  As a younger woman, she planted large vegetable gardens, canning or freezing much of the produce.  She could tell you how the best rhubarb grew near the abandoned outhouse.

She is survived by son Stephen (Marcia) Borton of Vernal, Utah; son-in-law Dennis Stamm of Howell, Michigan; step-son Ross (Lois) of Lakeland, Florida; step-daughter Sharon (David) Slocum of Hastings; step-son Larry (Kathy) Burdick of Hickory Corners; loving sister Ann Marie Bump of Woodland; nephew Rick (Rosie) Bump of Woodland; niece Annette (Leon) Weeks of Freeport; niece Ann Hopkins; plus 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gertrude and Carl Reuther, husband Donald, daughter Carol Stamm, and baby Joshua Stamm.

A memorial service will be held at the Green Street Methodist Church on May 20, 2022, at 11:00 AM with a visitation one hour prior at 10:00 AM, when the family and friends can be gathered from six different states. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net .