Rose Tabor

Rose Marie Tabor, 97, of Missoula, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes according to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ's, plan.

She was born on April 25, 1928, in Sauk City, Wisconsin, to Herman and Cordella Pings. She was the oldest of their three daughters. The younger girls admired their big sister, "Rosie," and they loved each other dearly. She graduated from Prairie Du Sac High School in 1946.

On September 6, 1950, Rose married the love of her life, Thomas Lee Tabor. The love birds traveled from Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Billings, MT, and finally settled in Missoula in 1958. She was a loving mother of five children. She was a fulltime homemaker, cooking, cleaning, caring, and supporting her husband and children. She made certain that her children were in attendance at St. Anthony Catholic Church every Sunday and CCD every Tuesday. When she attended her children's sporting events, she could be heard throughout the crowd, which usually required her husband to find another place to sit or stand.

In 1973, when her youngest was a teenager, she ventured into the business world where she was hired as a Door Greeter at the brand-new K-Mart. She loved it! She was well known in the community in the early days of K-Mart and worked until she retired in 1993.

She enjoyed playing bridge with her ladies group for over thirty years. She enjoyed gardening, especially growing roses, which won various ribbons at the Missoula County Fair.

She was preceded in death by her husband just a few weeks before their 69th anniversary, son Christopher, and son Nathan.

Survivors include her two daughters, Ann (Tim) Burton and Laura (Kent) Olsen, son Tom, along with 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren yet to be born.

A graveside service will take place at 10:30 am on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Thomas, who passed in 2019, will receive full military honors for his service to our country. Both Thomas and Rose will be laid to rest together, finally reunited. A reception at the Tabor household will take place at 12 noon at 1807 Charlott Ave in Missoula.