Cheryl Ann Roos

MARSHALL - It is with deep sadness that the family of Cheryl Ann Roos announce her passing after a courageous battle with colon cancer on Thursday, Jan. 24, at the age of 70. A celebration of Cheryl's life will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Christ United Presbyterian Church in Marshall. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service Tuesday at Hamilton Funeral home. Visitation will continue at the church, one hour prior to the service. A private burial will be held in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in the spring of 2013.
Cheryl was born Dec. 13, 1942, to Verna and William Livesay in Jamestown, N.D. After graduating from Jamestown High School in 1960, she went on to attend a year at Jamestown College. She then enrolled at the college of medical technology in Minneapolis where she became a registered lab and radiology technician. Cheryl worked in a hospital setting for 40 years doing lab and x-ray procedures and coordinating all of the out-patient services, such as nuclear medicine. Cheryl loved her job and excelled in showing kindness and compassion to all patients. The kindness she showed her patients was reciprocated when she received her breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 34. Due to her cancer diagnosis, Cheryl became an advocate and speaker for the American Cancer Society for 11 years and spoke to many organizations about breast cancer awareness. In 1965, she was united in marriage to Alex Roos. During that union, two children were born and made their family complete.
Cheryl lived a very active, full and no-regrets life. Her love for her family was undeniable, the menagerie of friends was incredible. She resided in Marshall with the exception of time she would spend traveling throughout the United States making lasting memories with friends and family. Her last "spectacular" trip was to Alaska with dear friends. On that trip, she crossed off a few items on her "bucket list" including kayaking, salmon fishing, mountain hiking and taking a skiff ride through "the masses of floating ice." In addition to her love of travel, Cheryl loved to shop! So much so, a moving company was involved (Uhaul) to transport her "treasures" back to Minnesota from a vacation in Arizona. Her shopping escapades always had an ulterior motive...Her friends' jeans became her jeans. The lamp for her friends' living room was really a lamp for her living room..." Oh, by the way, I bought these today, thinking of you, but I didn't know which color you would favor, so I will just keep this one for myself, it will look fantastic with the rug I bought earlier today." Not only did she enjoy shopping, she also had a flair for fabulous jewelry, unique items, statement pieces and things to "feather her nest" that then became another eight-year shopping excursion with the purchase of her lake home in Alexandria. Cheryl's lake home was named appropriately "About Time." Her "little bit of Heaven" on Le Homme Dieu was where her new journey began, making lake memories with family and friends. It was lunch at Bugaboo's, relaxing in the hammock, watching the sunsets and just enjoying relaxing lake life. Cheryl was able to check off four more things on her "bucket list" while living "the lake life"...being captain of her very own pontoon, which then lead to the purchase of a jet ski (the reason she was able to wear a doo rag without anyone wondering, "Why is that middle-aged" woman wearing that thing on her head?"), baiting her own hook, catching fish and letting people believe the big fish stories she told, and last but not least, taking that dare to swallow the minnow at Nelson's which she then repeated six more times...just for the free T-shirt. "About Time's" purpose was to spend time living, laughing and loving with her friends and family, children and grandchildren.
Cheryl's friendship was constant to those she knew and even extended to those she didn't by the countless kind words spoken about her. She saw beauty and purpose in everyone she met. Cheryl believed the eyes to the soul were through a person's smile and to reach out to those less fortunate or hurting. Cheryl's caring nature was impeccable. It wasn't just reserved for friends, it spilled over graciously to her family. She was a proud mother of two children, daughter Kellie and son Jason. She instilled the values of learning from their mistakes, understanding their strong and weak points, having a strong set of beliefs, to laugh and enjoy life, to be a good role model, and that love is the best emotion anyone can have. She was blessed to witness her own children instilling these same values in her four grandchildren, Noah, Chloe, Maya and Halle. Cheryl always said that her grandchildren were "Blessings from Heaven." She so enjoyed watching them grow and how each one developed their own unique personality. She was proud to be their "Nana" and Grandma. To everyone who knew her, she would want you to know the wonderful impact you made on her life. She was richly blessed in love, friends and family. For those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with her during her life's journey, we only hope she has touched your life as much as you have touched hers. Cheryl's parting words she left for the countless people who loved her: "I may seem far away, but it only takes a thought to bring me near."
Cheryl is survived by her loving children, Kellie (Greg) Bladholm of Marshall; Jason (Jami) Roos of Marshall; granddaughter Jessica Bladholm of New Orleans, La., and her four cherubs, Noah, Chloe, Maya and Halle. She is also survived by siblings, Linda Hust of Camarillo, Calif., Billie (Dennis) Forsberg of Marysville, Wash., Richard (Vicki) Livesay of Bismark, N.D., and her nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, niece Stacey Hust and one grandchild.
Memorials are preferred to The Hospice House of Marshall and the American Cancer Society.
Blessed be the memory and beautiful spirit of Cheryl Ann Roos.