Rosemary Karleskint

Rosemary was the youngest of five children for Walter and Helen Butenschoen. Born on April 3rd,1930 in rural Eufaula, Oklahoma, Rosemary passed away Friday, November 14th, 2025, at the age of 95. Growing up on the family farm in Eufaula was happy but busy for Rosemary. Starting as early as 6 years old, Rosemary helped collect eggs, pick strawberries or cotton, and assisted in canning garden grown produce with her mother. Rosemary's older siblings attempted to keep the field work fun & interesting for the youngster by occasionally lobbing an extra mushy berry towards the backside of Rosie's overalls. It was up to Rosemary to try and guess which one was the guilty sibling. Education for farm kids began at the rural one room school, Union Grove, (also known as Pull Tight) followed by Eufaula High School where Rosemary graduated Salutatorian for the Class of 1947. She was always proud to be a Eufaula Ironhead! After graduation, Rosemary joined her sisters Helen and Elsie to live and work in the big city of Tulsa. Starting in the steno pool at Stanolind Pipeline, (later known as Service Pipeline Company) Rosemary worked her way up to become secretary to the Treasurer. During this time, she was a member of the Desk and Derrick Club and active in the social group, Catholic Activities. It was through Catholic Activities that Rosemary met her future husband, Alfred Karleskint. Alfred and Rosemary had childhood farm life in common and as luck would have it, Al just happened to be the older brother of two of Rosemary's roommates. After dating for two years, Al and Rosemary were married on November 26th,1955 at St. Francis Xavier church in Tulsa. The happy couple welcomed their first child in 1957. Although Rosemary loved her work at Service Pipeline, family came first and she chose to become a stay-at-home mother, a role that would suit her well for many years and five more children. Rosemary enjoyed most sports but by far, her favorite became OU Sooner football. Whether listening to the game on the radio or watching them play on TV, the Sooners' most loyal fan was always tuned in and rooting for another Boomer Sooner win! Rosemary was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and sister-in-law as well as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. With Rosemary's peaceful passing she is survived by her children, Phyllis Montgomery (Dale), Joyce Karleskint, John Karleskint, Janet Karleskint (Stephanie Deatherage), David Karleskint, seven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and many adoring nieces and nephews. Rosemary is preceded in death by her husband Alfred, daughter Mary Blansett, brothers George and Joe Butenschoen, sisters Helen Cunningham and Elsie Creider, and parents Walter and Helen Butenschoen. Rosemary made lifelong friends from within her neighborhood, the Church of the Madalene community, as an active member of the Parent Teacher Association, and with a little-known exercise group that started at the Turner Park Recreation Center. Rosemary will be missed by all and fondly remembered for her warm smile, quick wit, common sense, boundless energy, and determined spirit. She led by example to teach her children to be kind and respectful to everyone, a trait that she readily believed must be passed from generation to generation. Rosie's children deeply appreciate the assistance provided by Seasons Hospice for helping them honor their mother's wishes in her final days. A Rosary Service will be at 7:00 pm, on Monday, November 24th, and a Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, November 25th, at 10:00 am, both at Church of the Madalene, 3188 E. 22nd St. Tulsa, OK 74114. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 918-585-1151

Rosemary Karleskint

April 3, 1930 - November 14, 2025