Rose Houghton

Rose (Host) Houghton of Des Moines died Sunday, January 13, 2008. Rose was born September 2, 1923 to Roman and Jennie (Blechich) Host in Hocking, Iowa. A coal mining family, they eventually moved to Waukee and then to Des Moines where they resided for many years. Rose graduated from East High School in 1940, and for many years thereafter could often be found at the famous East High class reunions. After graduation, she worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and was involved in the beginning of long distance dialing. In 1958 Rose married Robert J. Houghton of Des Moines and stayed home to raise her family.
Rose was very active at St. Peter’s Catholic Church and School, (now Our Lady of the Americas and Holy Family School) and enjoyed volunteering there. She loved music and sang and played guitar in the church choir for many years. In her younger days Rose was very athletic; she loved to bowl and was particularly adept at playing softball. In 1976 she was inducted into the Des Moines and Iowa Softball Hall of Fame.
Rose was a devout Catholic. She truly lived for God, her family, relatives and friends, caring for many, and always putting the needs of others before her own.
Rose is survived by a son, Tom; daughter, Julie; and granddaughter, Katie, all of Des Moines. She is also Aunt Rose to numerous nieces and nephews. Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her parents, Roman and Jennie; brothers, Andrew, Rudy, John and Albert; and sister, Josephine.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Hamilton’s Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Church - St. Peter’s site, with burial at Glendale Cemetery. The visitation will be held at St. Peter’s from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday where a Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Americas.

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