Rozella Jean Krohne

KROHNE, Rozella Jean (née Butka)--b. Oct. 28, 1927, White Memorial Hospital, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles City, Calif.; d. Nov. 9, 2022, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, Calif.

Jean grew up in the Los Angeles and Pomona area with her parents, Hersel Eugene Butka and Mabel Margaret Butka (née Wirt), both M.D.s, and her older sister Lelia Aileen. Between ages two to four, the family spent one and a half years living in South America where her parents worked at the Chulamani Hospital in Bolivia as SDA Medical Missionaries, and then several months in Germany continuing her parents' education, before returning to the United States.

Jean went to schools in Pomona through ninth grade, then transferred to La Sierra Academy and graduated in 1945. She then headed to P.U.C. for a year of pre-nursing. In 1946 she entered the Loma Linda School of Nursing and graduated with the Class of 1949. From 1951-52 she began additional coursework at La Sierra College before returning to P.U.C. for the 1952-53 school year when she graduated with a B.S.N.E. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education -- so she could teach if she wanted).

Jean met Kenneth Duane Krohne, aka “Kenny” at an Adventist skating party in Riverside. On Dec. 20, 1953 they were married in the Burden Hall Chapel, Loma Linda, Calif. They had five children: Ted Ray, Jerry Lee (deceased 15 May 2012), Dave Edward, Julie Rozanne, and Scott Alan. Her husband “Kenny” died Jan. 30, 1986. She never dated or remarried, but rather enjoyed her family, many friends, and her SDA church.

Ken and Jean bought a lot on Van Leuven Street one month after marriage and built their own home, adding on to it as more children were born. Jean lived in that same house for 68 years until her death.

Except for the school year at P.U.C., Jean worked at the Loma Linda Sanitarium (now LLUMC) in the office of three surgeons as their nurse for ten years between 1949-58, when she decided to become a full-time mother and homemaker shortly after the birth of her second son.

Jean enjoyed spending time with her children, reading them daily stories and teaching them to make cookies and other simple recipes. She also taught her daughter how to sew, crochet, and play a little piano. She happily listened to all her children practice their musical instruments and watched her son Dave practice mime and magic tricks. Family meals during holidays were particularly to her liking, as were family reunions.

The family enjoyed frequent camping trips throughout the year (first tent camping, then upgraded to towing both a trailer and a boat, and eventually towed an Airstream trailer) with a larger trip somewhere each summer. Some camping trips were with the Campus Maintenance group. Later, Mom and Ted went on day trips with the Church Campers for church and a potluck. There was Disneyland every September for “Hospital Night”, and other day excursions. Jean enjoyed a full life.

Jean played the piano and loved to sing religious hymns. She enjoyed reading and read the paper front to back every day, and after retirement did two word-search puzzles daily. She participated in an adult writing class and Bible study group until they closed in 2020 due to covid-19.

In 1984 with only one minor child still in high school, Jean returned to work, working part-time with relatives and later for the current owner at Olga Lee's Uniforms (later known as Loma Linda Uniforms) as a Uniform Sales Clerk. In 2003, after working there 19 years, Jean fell and broke a bone causing months of pain and had to retire.

The following year in 2004 she sold three lots (two homes as the middle one was destroyed in the big flood when San Mateo Creek overflowed in 1969) and got out of the landlord business that had helped pay for private SDA schooling for her children and then given her supplemental income. These properties had been a gift from Jean’s parents.

Her favorite flower was the red rose, her color was royal blue, then red, and she loved chocolate. Jean was always a happy person and easily made friends, keeping several of her classmates as life-long friends.

Jean was predeceased by her husband, parents, son Jerry, sister Aileen Ludington (nee Butka), M.D., and half sister Patricia Gail Butka.

Jean is survived by her children and their spouses: Ted, Dave (Holly), Julie (Robert Evans, Jr.), and Scott (Korrie), grandchildren Brian (Rebecca), Andrew (Hanniel), Tristan, and Clio, and great grandchild Esther. Also surviving are her half brother and half sister Gary Neal Butka, M.D. and Brenda Jo Butka, M.D. and many nieces and nephews.

Nov. 19, 2022 there will be a Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m. in Room 1402 “The Gathering Place” of the Loma Linda University Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda, CA.

Nov. 30, 2022 there will be a private interment at 1:00 p.m. at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.