Rosalie Ellen Fields

On August 25, 2017 Rosalie Ellen Fields of Honolulu, Hawaii passed from this life. Born July 27, 1923, Rosalie grew up in her family’s home at the Hat Creek Stage Station. She had many fond memories of growing up at the family ranch, enjoying the comradery of the many neighbors, friends and customers of the Hat Creek Store.

As a teenager she converted to the Catholic Faith.

After graduating from Niobrara County High School, she attended college at University of WY and later transferred to a Boulder CO college to finish obtaining her nursing degree. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She later completed psychiatric nurses training in Michigan.

After a year or two spent with Dr. Reckling at the Spencer Hospital in Lusk, she began her career as a traveling nurse. She worked as a nurse in many places including Wisconsin, Alaska, California and New Orleans, finally settling in Honolulu. Rosalie always planned to spend at least two years in each location so she could learn the local customs and cuisine.

Traveling and cooking were two of Rosalie’s favorite pastimes. She traveled extensively, including a trip around the world.

After she retired from nursing, she worked for another ten years caring for people in a nursing home.

In 1990 she made a last trip to Wyoming to attend the dedication of the Hat Creek Stage Station and was an honored guest at the ceremony. She donated the Stage Station building to the Niobrara Historical Society for its preservation.

While she loved her life in Hawaii, she considered Wyoming home, keeping in touch with friends and subscribing to the Lusk Herald.

Rosalie will be interred with her parents at the Lusk Cemetery.

Preceding her in death were her parents Dudley and Mary Jane “Mae” Fields and a sister Catherine Fields.

The Rosalie Fields Memorial Nursing Scholarship has been established at the University of WY, with preference given to applicants from Niobrara County.

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