Rosetta N. Drake

Rosetta "Rosy" Naomi Drake 77, Kearney Nebraska passed away at her home surrounded by family. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2024 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney with Tom Hall officiating. Interment will follow at Litchfield Cemetery in Litchfield, NE. Visitation will be held 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Rosetta Naomi Nielsen was born at her grandparent’s farm near Litchfield, Nebraska on July 7, 1946, to Dorothy Nielsen. Some of her fondest memories were being raised by her mom and grandparents Niels and Emma Nielsen, especially the daily walks to the General Store with Grandpa Niels. Her mother married William "Bill" Feldman. Bill adopted Rosy and loved her like his own until his passing. The family moved to a farm of their own in Sherman County and she attended school in Sherman County. Later they moved to Kearney Nebraska where she attended Kearney Public School and graduated in 1965. She attended Kearney State College her freshman year and was interested in art and horses. She married John King and became a mom to his son Jon King. To this union they welcomed son Scott. As a teen she worked at Grandpa's Steakhouse and eventually would be employed at Baldwin Filters for almost four decades. On February 14th, 1981 she married Albert "Bert" Drake, they were married until his passing in 2014. During their marriage they raised their children and built their dream home. They also joined the Jehovah Witness Congregation. Rosy and Bert loved to have adventures, visiting many places and visiting friends and family. Rosy would dream up plans and together they would carry them out. To name a few, they did clown shows at nursing homes, scavenger hunts, picnics and lots of card games. As grandparents she was a hands-on Grandma, teaching them her love of art, making clay animals and meanwhile Papa was giving the grandkids buffalo rides and looking at the milky way. She volunteered her talent at the old Children's Museum painting murals in her spare time, she wrote three children's books and participated at the Art in the park, Bert was her biggest supporter. Rosy packed in a lot of fun and adventure in her seventy-seven years. She could always find the positive in any situation. Left to cherish her memory are her sons Jon King, Scott (Eileen) King all of Kearney; grandchildren, Zann (Abi) King of Kearney. Jennifer (Alec) King-Simmons of Fort Collins, CO, Tim (Jennifer) King Gibbon, Alisia (Corey) Hopkins of Shelton, Joe King of California and Matt (Jaiden) King of Elm Creek; great grandchildren, Forest King and Estes King, Landon and Bailey Hopkins, Kendrick, Anelise and Bastian King. Albert's children, sister-in-law, Kathy Feldman; nieces and nephews; Her Witness family and many family and friends. Rosy was preceded in death by her Husband Albert; parents, Dorothy and Bill; brother, Darrell; stepdaughter, Cheri Jensen.

Rosetta N. Drake

July 7, 1946 - March 31, 2024