Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
Rose Ellena Widegren
Obituaries
January 22, 2025
Rose Ellena Widegren

January 25, 1946-January 19, 2025

Rose Widegren was born in the doctor’s office in Hotchkiss, Colorado, on Jan. 25, 1946.

She was the third of five children born to her mother, Agnes Egger Welch, and her father, Augustine Guercio Welch, who worked in the mines in the North Fork Valley while the family lived in Somerset, in a tiny house on the bank of the North Fork of the Gunnison River.

The family moved to Fruita after August’s death in 1960, to live with Rose’s grandfather, Joseph Egger.

There, Rose graduated from Fruita High School in 1964 and went on to study music at Western State College in Gunnison. She married Rex Odell Widegren in 1967. They were high school sweethearts – she was the head cheerleader and he was the quarterback of the football team. Their first date was her junior prom, and she took him because he was only a sophomore.

They welcomed their first son, Todd, shortly after they married, when the couple was living in Greeley.

Later on, their next son, Craig, was born in Leadville.

They were the only two of the nine Widegren children born in the hospital – Rose decided she could do just as well at home with Rex acting as midwife after that.

Jason, Camille, Michelle, Anthony, Benjamin, Mark and Jesse followed, as the couple moved to Oregon, back to Colorado and eventually to the South after they owned a health food store in downtown Grand Junction called The Good Earth.

The Widegrens moved to Mountain View, Arkansas, in a converted bread truck, with ducks, a goat, chickens, four kids and beehives to live off the land. They stayed until 1984, when they returned to live in Palisade. She worked at a health food store again – this time at the Horn O’ Plenty – helping customers with therapeutic home remedies.

For the past four decades, Rose was a fixture in the rich fabric of the Palisade community and volunteered for everything from starting a youth soccer league in Palisade to advocating for a new high school to be built.

She volunteered to help with the St. Ann’s Catholic Church directory and helped organize the church yard sale every year. Some may remember her as the “chicken lady,” who championed a new town ordinance allowing backyard poultry keeping in Palisade.

Those who drove past the family home could see she kept a flock of chickens, and she would wave at passersby while she was outside tending her garden and animals. When you were lucky, she would visit with you and give you a taste of a fresh fig she grew herself.

Rose had a soft spot for stray animals and humans.

She adopted many over the years to call her own, and opened her heart to them. Her kitchen table was a welcome spot for visitors, who she greeted with an offer of tea and snacks, usually her homemade coconut- date rolls or dried peach roll-ups. She could feed a small army with a lasagna.

Her favorite place to be was at home, surrounded by her family. She was able to enjoy that before she died at the Hope West Ferris Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, after being diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer in December.

She joins her husband, Rex, and her son, Mark, in heaven, as well as her parents and sisters Theresa Mc-Donald and Anita McIntyre, who died before her.

Survivors include her brother, John (Carolyn) Welch of Montrose; her sister, Jo Adair Brown of Grand Junction; her children, Todd (Michelle Foote), Camille (Andy) Nack, Michelle, and Anthony (Nicole Magill) of Grand Junction, Craig (Sara) of Montrose, Jason (Michelle Beutz) of Littleton, and Ben (Amanda Davis) and Jesse of Palisade. She also leaves behind grandchildren Hannah (Tom) Murray, Kris Widegren, Kaleb Widegren, Claire Widegren, Grace Widegren, Anna Widegren, Brittni (Ryan) Koke Nack, Mitchell (Billie) Nack, Xander Dranginis, Sebastian Widegren, Odin Widegren and Ada Abers; and two great-grandchildren, Laura and Eleanor Rose Nack.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Palisade.

Saving Swiss Village
Main, News...
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVED
Saving Swiss Village
Collaboration to buy Ouray mobile home park could serve as model elsewhere in Colorado, as residents celebrate with applause, tears
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
It took an attorney willing to work for free and hop on a midnight phone call in the middle of her vacation. It took two couples who had never met before performing remarkable acts of generosity and h...
this is a test
Main, News...
Fireworks shot at homes
Council enacts blanket ban as police look for truck
By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city leaders moved swiftly this week to ban all personal fireworks in the city, days after homes near Lee’s Ski Hill were shot with a barrage of pyrotechnics on Sunday night that ignited multipl...
this is a test
Home Trust to close on rental property
News
Home Trust to close on rental property
Ouray triplex will be retained as affordable housing
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
Five new affordable rental units are coming to the city of Ouray, as the Home Trust of Ouray County will close next month on its second affordable housing acquisition. The property at 835 Second St. i...
this is a test
News
Sex assault trial delayed
Defense seeks DNA expert; attorneys disagree on possible venue change
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
The trial of one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl inside the home of the former Ouray police chief has been delayed. Nate Dieffenderffer, 20, was scheduled to stand trial...
this is a test
News
City pulls back on plans for Fellin Park stage
Search on for funding as price tag drops to between $1M and $1.6M
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city councilors are much happier with revised plans for a permanent stage in Fellin Park. Now the challenge is finding money to pay for it. Councilors on Monday looked at two scenarios that drop...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RV Park’s treatment has long-lasting effect
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: My mother and father bought a trailer at the 4J+1+1 RV Park in 2005 and loved living there. My mom even lived there alone for 10 years after my dad passed. She is getting older so we buil...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Commit to climate action
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: I salute Hansa Devi and the Ridgway Town Council for their part in making Ridgway, Colorado, the first in the world to fly the Earth Flag! In 2023 the Pew Research Center study found that...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
New building a wart on face of mountain
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: During the past few months myself, valley floor ranch folks, Ridgway residents and others have been asking about the building that has been under construction for a period of time located...
this is a test
Looking Back
Looking Back
Looking Back
June 18, 2025
50 Years Ago June 19, 1975 Dick Guadagno, Ridgway, came to the Ouray City Council meeting Monday night to ask council approval of a project to renovate the historic Horsethief Trail this summer. Guada...
this is a test
News
SMPA delays Ouray work until August
Power cooperative vows to improve communication with city
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
June 18, 2025
San Miguel Power Association is postponing work to replace power poles and more in the city of Ouray until late August because of delays in getting supplies. The company rescheduled the dates earlier ...
this is a test
News
City seeks parking solutions
Priorities: Turnover on Main Street, more parking on side streets
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city leaders want to encourage turnover of parking spaces on Main Street and utilize more parking on side streets, while creating more enforceable parking rules. Those were just some of the prio...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy