Memorial Services for Benny, 84 and Patsy, 76 Rosell, Shawnee, will be 10:30 am, Friday, September 14, 2018, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will take place from 9:30 to service time.
Benny Rosell Obituary
Benny Tupas Rosell was born on January 17, 1934 in Sindangan, Zamboanga, Philippines. His parents, Eliza and Hilario Rosell, both deceased, were active in Christian ministry. Benny came to the United States in 1952 by ship in order to attend a small Bible college in Stanberry, MO. He then transferred to Phillips University in Enid, OK, where he received his baccalaureate degree in 1956, majoring in Bible Studies. He also attended Wichita State University, majoring in secondary school administration and earning his teaching certification. Benny was honored to become naturalized citizen of the United States in 1968.
He began his teaching career at Florence High School in 1962 and then transferred to Hoxie High School in 1964 where he spent 32 years teaching language arts and coaching forensics and debate, enabling his students to become a state champions numerous years. After retiring, Benny continued to substitute teach as he loved mentoring students. His teaching career culminated with an induction into the Kansas High School Hall of Fame in 2006.
Benny felt God’s call to ministry and became the pastor of the First Christian Church of Hoxie in 1975 and retired in 1998. He continued to preach at various churches and serve as interim pastor for many years.
He was married to Patsy Blain of Cherokee, OK in 1959, celebrating over 58 years of marriage. Pat passed away only 16 hours after Benny on September 9, 2018. They are survived by their children, Yolanda Hargett (Husband Cole) of Olathe, KS and Michael Rosell (Wife Katy) of Lee’s Summit, MO. They have 5 grandchildren ~ Jason, Jonathan & Senna Hargett and Alexandra & Benjamin Rosell.
Other survivors include three sisters, Betty White, St. Joseph, MO, who came to America with Benny, and Elena and Elsie, still in the Philippines, and two brothers, Eddie Rosell, also in the Philippines, and Ernest Rosell of Hackettstown, NJ.
Benny was an avid bass fisherman and spent a great deal of time at local fishing lakes. He also enjoyed working in the yard and gardening.
Pat Rosell Obituary
Patsy Jane Blain was born on November, 18, 1941, in Cherokee, OK. Her parents were Ramona Campbell and Ellsworth Blain, both deceased. Pat graduated from High School in 1959 and promptly moved to Wichita, KS, where she met the love of her life, Benny Rosell, and they married on October 24, 1959, celebrating over 58 years of marriage.
She was a wonderful mother and homemaker. She and Benny had two children: Yolanda Hargett of Olathe, KS and Michael Rosell of Lee’s Summit. They also have five grandchildren: Jason, Jonathan & Senna Hargett and Alexandra & Benjamin Rosell.
Pat worked for several years as a pre-school teacher in Hoxie, KS as well as a home health aide in Salina, KS. She also served tirelessly beside her husband, Benny, supporting him and the church family in any way needed.
A talented painter working primarily with oil paints, Pat created beautiful landscape paintings, including many of local settings where they lived. Pat’s paintings recently won 1st Place and Best in Show in a Lawrence, KS, “Art is Ageless” competition in 2017. She was very passionate about her paintings, considering them her “babies”! Her other “baby” was her dog, “Puffy”, whom she doted on along with numerous stray cats that she and Benny would adopt.
Pat is survived by one brother, Bob Blain of Wichita, KS.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research as this was the disease that ravaged both Benny and Pat’s earthly bodies.
