Rosella Kallhoff
Rosella Kallhoff, 96, of Canby, Minn., passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Sept. 14 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby, with burial at the St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery in Madison, Minn. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel of Canby, was entrusted with the arrangements.
Rosella Dorothy Kallhoff was born on Sept. 5, 1929, to Albert and Alice (Larson) Vonderharr in Madison. She was baptized at St. Michael’s Catholic Church and attended school in Madison.
On Oct. 1, 1947, Rosella married Alfred Kallhoff at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Madison. Together, they welcomed eight children, five daughters and three sons, and built a life centered on family, faith and farming. They farmed in the Madison area for five years before purchasing a farm near Canby, where they made their home for the next 25 years. In 1977, they moved to Rosella’s parents’ farm near Madison. Alfred and Rosella returned to Canby in 1999, and Rosella lovingly served as Alfred’s primary caregiver until his passing in 2007. They shared nearly 60 years of marriage.
Rosella was first and foremost a devoted mother and farm wife. She tended to a large vegetable garden and spent countless hours canning and freezing its harvest for her family. Her faith and family were at the heart of her life. In later years, she treasured time with friends and her weekly prayer group. She also enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, painting ceramics, working on puzzles, playing Uno and Rummikub with those she loved and watching Hallmark movies.
Rosella lived in her home until February 2026, when she moved to Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson. While there, she treasured every visitor and was blessed to have someone visit her nearly every day. She enjoyed the activities at the care center, especially listening to music, playing bingo and admiring the flowers in the courtyard. Her electronic photo frame also brought her great joy, filling her room with treasured family memories. The funny photos were among her favorites and often brought out her playful sense of humor.
Rosella passed away on Sept. 4, 2026, at the Johnson Memorial Care Center in Dawson, surrounded by her family. She was 96 years, 11 months and 30 days old, just one day shy of her 97th birthday.
Rosella is survived by her children: Paulette (Dale) Grube of Marietta, Cathy (Fred) Zoss of Dawson, Steven (Diane) Kallhoff of Windsor, Colo., Mark (Julie) Kallhoff of Canby, Mary Beth (Loring) Struck of Canby, Bryan (Laurie) Kallhoff of Canby, and Kaye (Randy) Johnson of Hutchinson; 21 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Rosella is survived by her brothers, Charles (Shirley) Vonderharr and Thomas (JoAnn) Vonderharr; brothers-in-law, Dean (Monica) Kallhoff, David (Diane) Kallhoff and Mike (Cheryl) Kallhoff; sisters-in-law, Virginia Christensen, Dorothy Adelman and Sharon Kallhoff; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred; daughter, Carolyn Louise; son-in-law, Charles Beninga; parents, Albert and Alice Vonderharr; parents-in-law, Paul and Katherine Kallhoff; sisters, Louise Dohm and Ardis (Obert) Kveene; brother, Linus Vonderharr; brothers-in-law: Louis Kallhoff, Robert (June) Kallhoff, Leander (Mildred) Kallhoff, Richard Kallhoff, Maurice (Carnella Breberg) Kallhoff and Jerry Adelman; and sisters-in-law: Louise Kallhoff, Genevieve (Wilfred) Adelman, Catherine Ann “Kate” Kallhoff and Wilma (Ronald) Schreck.
Rosella’s loving presence, deep faith and playful spirit will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Blessed be her memory.