(Anna) Rochelle Garten

Anna “Rochelle” (Stark) Garten, 83, passed away January 18, 2022, at Saint Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO, after suffering a stroke on December 10 ^th , 2021.

Rochelle was born November 12, 1938, to Hubert Hartley and Opal Louise (Putnam) Stark. Rochelle was born in the home into which she and Howard would later move and make their own. She was raised in western Putnam County and attended Gravel Ridge School and Powersville School.  She graduated from Unionville High School in 1956. It was there that she met and asked Howard Garten to attend an FHA Kitchen Warming Dance with her. They soon began dating and never dated anyone else.  After graduation, Rochelle moved to Des Moines, IA, where she worked at Banker’s Life Insurance Co.

Rochelle and Howard were married in Kidder, MO, on March 24, 1957. The couple moved back to the Powersville area from Des Moines in 1958, and there they began their lives as farmers.  Over the years, they raised chickens, sheep, hogs, dairy and beef cows as well as row crops. Rochelle was responsible for many of the day-to-day chores on the farm and the raising of their 3 children, as Howard always had some sort of job in addition to farming to help support the farm and family.  Over the years Rochelle also worked as a school bus driver, house cleaner, and office assistant.  But most of all, she was known as a tuff-as-nails farmer’s wife.  She was a terrific gardener and great cook.  She felt it was her duty to place a meal on the table for anyone who might be at her home. Most everything she cooked came from her garden and the beef she and Howard raised.  When the meal was ready, it was common to hear her say, “I don’t know if it’s fit to eat, but dinner’s ready!”  In later years, she could often be found looking through her numerous cookbooks and planning the meals she would like to prepare.

After their children were grown and Howard gave up full-time farming to become an over-the-road truck driver, Rochelle would sometimes join him on his trips.  They were able to travel all over the United States and shared many adventures and misadventures together.  Music was always a very important part of Rochelle’s life.  She often sang solos at the Powersville Christian Church, where she was a baptized member.  After Howard passed away, Saturday nights would usually find her in front of her TV watching her favorite music programs: Dailey and Vincent, Daniel O’Donnell, The Molly B. Polka Party, and Larry’s Country Diner.  Her family and friends knew not to call and interrupt her Saturday night shows.

Rochelle knew as much about cattle and farming as most men and was a hands-on farmer’s wife.  She was most at home outside with her hands in the dirt, in the barn milking a cow, or riding her ATV to check for new calves.  Even after she was no longer able to physically do the day-to-day chores, she was known to give sound advice concerning farming to her son, grandson, and neighbors.

Rochelle was ever the fighter and had successfully battled two forms of cancer over the past 15 years. She dearly loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and was so proud of their many accomplishments. She was loved by all who knew her and will be missed by many.

Rochelle is survived by her son, Randall Kent (fiancé Lorri Fournier) Garten of Sebastian, FL, and by a daughter, Teresa LuAnne (Marc) Hill of Lee’s Summit, MO.  Her grandchildren are Christina Takahashi, Stephanie Hill, Casey Hill, Jennifer (Josh) Lansdale, Jeffrey (Diana) Garten, and Brandi (Joe Havens) Garten. Rochelle is also survived by 7 great grandchildren: Mia Takahashi, Frankie, Ayden, and Brinkley Lansdale, and Owen, Scarlett, and Mason Havens.  A brother, James Russell (Linda) Stark of Naples, FL, also survives.

Rochelle was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Junior Garten, son Bruce Alan Garten, as well as parents Hubert Hartley and Opal Louise (Putnam) Stark.

A memorial service will be at Playle & Collins Funeral Home at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 5, 2022.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Private inurnment will be at the Powersville Cemetery, Powersville, MO.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Powersville Cemetery or Saint Luke’s Hospice House and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Funeral Home 709 S. 27 ^th Street, Unionville, MO 63565.