Rosemary Wortman

Graveside services are scheduled for 9:30 am, Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at South Park Cemetery for Rosemary Wortman, 87, who passed away on Friday, July 24, 2015 at a nursing home in Roswell with her husband by her side. Reverend Stephen Deutsch of First Presbyterian Church of Dexter and Hagerman will conduct the service.

Rosemary was born April 15, 1928 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota to C. Arthur Anderson and Margaret Frankoviz Anderson who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her sister Jacqueline A. Smith.

Rosemary graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1946. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Library Science with a minor in French from The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota in the Class of 1950. After graduation she worked in Menominee, Michigan as a librarian for a year. In 1951 she went to work for the military as a Special Services employee and was sent to Germany as a librarian. In 1952 while working as the librarian at Coleman Barracks, Mannheim, Germany, she met John F. "Bud" Wortman who was stationed there as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Armored Division. They were married in October 1953 in the Chapel at Coleman Barracks.

In December 1953, Bud was separated from active duty and assigned to the Army Reserve. Rosemary and Bud came home to the Wortman family businesses in Dexter, NM. They lived there together continuing the family businesses for their nearly 62 years of marriage. Bud survives her at their home in Dexter.

Rosemary and Bud have two sons who also survive her: John F., Jr. (Johnny) and his wife Missy of Las Cruces, and David P. Wortman and his wife Lynne of Longview, TX.

She is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Jacinda Juarez and her husband Jose Luis of Albuquerque, Danielle Dody and her husband Jesse of Charlotte, North Carolina, Allan Wortman of Austin, Texas and Jennie Wortman of Dallas, Texas, and Jacob and Christina Aguayo of Las Cruces. She has one living cousin David Heiberg and his wife Verna, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rosemary has three nieces Pamela Stark and her husband John of West Des Moines, Iowa; Sallie Wortman and her husband Arthur Estes of Ft. Worth, Texas and Meriel Brodie of Raleigh, North Carolina. She has two nephews Rob Wortman and Rusty Wortman, both of Tucson, Arizona. Rosemary is also survived by one sister-in-law, Jean Wortman of Tucson, Arizona.

She was a loving and dedicated mother to her two sons, devoted homemaker and contributor to the family businesses in Dexter. Rosemary never lost sight of her passion for librarian work, as she always found time as a volunteer to support the growth and development of the Dexter Public Library. She loved the theater, the arts, painting, reading, singing, and playing her piano. Over the years, she was an active member and supporter of numerous community, church, and school organizations and activities.

Service

Cemetery