Rhonda Stewart 12/01/2011

Rhonda Kay Stewart, nee Backstrom, age 51 of rural Osceola died Thursday, December 1, 2011 at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, MN from complications of fighting cancer.  Rhonda was born the daughter of Tom and Sonja (Johnson) Backstrom on September 12, 1960 in Eau Claire, WI.  She grew up in Eau Claire and Fall Creek, graduating from Fall Creek High School with the class of 1978.  On September 15, 1979, she married James Stewart in Fall Creek.  They moved to rural Osceola in 1984.  Rhonda stayed at home and raised their children until 1994 when she went to work as a teachers aid in the Kindergarten class at the Osceola Elementary School.  Rhonda loved kids and animals.  She loved to take their dogs on walks and trips.  She especially enjoyed road trips with her family whether to the cabin on Big McGraw Lake or any destination.  She was bubbly and energetic, and always had a great sense of humor.  Even with her illness, she always managed to be loving and kind toward others.  She is preceded in death by her father-in-law, Carl Stewart and brother-in-law, Victor Stewart.  Rhonda is survived by her husband, James Stewart; children, Amber Stewart and Jesse Stewart; parents, Tom (Sonja) Backstrom; sister, Christine Schultz; niece, Marissa Schultz; mother-in-law, Georgia Saastad; brother-in-law, Kenneth Stewart; and many more relatives and friends.  A Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 11 am at West Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Osceola.  Visitation was held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 4-8 pm at the West Immanuel fellowship hall and on Wednesday from 10-11 am at the church.  Interment was in West Immanuel Cemetery.  Arrangements were with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services Beebe Chapel of New Richmond.