Rosemary "Rosie" Burke Belvin

Rosemary “Rosie” Burke Belvin lived a life of love and faith. She passed away peacefully from this earthly life at age 86 at her home in Garden Ridge, Texas on July 8th, 2023 with her loving husband Bobby and daughter Sharon by her side.

Rosie was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the middle child in a family of ten children. She grew up in the state of Texas. At 8 years old, she began playing the guitar her father gave her, and learned to play while she sang along and yodeled to Country Cowboy songs on her Mama’s radio. Besides music, Rosie enjoyed many activities such as cheerleading, waterskiing, swimming, snorkeling, traveling, crocheting, quilting, gardening, and watching Hallmark movies. But most of all, she loved spending time with family and friends.

At age 20 she married Jerry Friesen and they had one child, Sharon. In the 1960s they moved from Texas to Washington state. Being a devoted and loving mother, Rosie spent many years taking care of Sharon through multiple knee problems and surgeries. She also taught Sharon and others how to play guitar and sing. In the 1970s Rosie began working in the early stages of computer technology at Control Data, beginning as a key punch operator and promoted to data processing.

When her marriage ended, Rosie and Sharon came back to Texas to be near family again. After a year, Rosie stayed in Texas but Sharon headed north for college and career, eventually settling down in Alaska.

Rosie joined all of her brothers and other family members at Dover Elevators in Austin and San Antonio, where she had a long and successful career in elevator sales and designing computer systems for hydraulic elevators. Rosie loved her job working with family, and as a result they all became even closer. She was very bright and a quick study, and trained others at Dover. With just experience, on the job training and continuing education, she made remarkable contributions to Dover and the fields of computer and elevator technology.

Throughout her life, Rosie continued singing, winning yodeling contests and playing for family and friends. She performed her Country Cowboy music professionally at several venues in Alaska with Sharon and in Texas with her niece Robin and sister Katy. Music brought Rosie, Sharon, Robin, Katy and all of her family closer as well. Rosie and Katy formed a duo called “The Burke Sisters,” and recorded a CD with the title track “Cowboy Sweetheart,” which became Rosie’s theme song highlighting her unique Country Cowboy yodeling style. The CD also included some of Rosie’s original songs like “Mama’s Radio,” telling the story of her beginnings in music. The Burke Sisters opened for famous singers such as Merle Haggard and George Jones, and performed at a variety of events such as the Annual Austin City Limits show at Zilker Park.

In 2008, Rosie married her high school sweetheart, Robert “Bobby” Belvin and they shared their lives for 15 very happy years. Rosie and Bobby cared sweetly for each other during the highs and lows of life. They found deep love together and in Jesus Christ our Savior, and joined the Coker Methodist church in San Antonio. Rosie played her guitar and sang hymns at their Questors Bible Group at Coker, leading others in Worship for the glory of God. She and Bobby were involved in charities through the church, and loved studying and living God’s Word from the Holy Bible.

Rosie was a beautiful woman, but no words could describe just how special she was. She showered her energetic, passionate and faithful love on her family and friends all her life. She was especially thankful to God for Bobby and the blessings of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their large families. Her positive outlook, can-do attitude and pure joy was contagious, and she was loved by all who knew her. She lived a long and well-lived life, and finished well with her faith in Jesus. She was an inspiration and will be missed. Rosie’s loving soul and cheerful spirit will live on in heaven and in our hearts, forever.

Rosie is preceded in death by her parents Stella and Roy Burke, brothers Jerry, Tom and Jim Burke; sisters Helen Marie Burke and Joanie Laznovsky; and ex-husband Jerry Friesen. She is survived by her husband Bobby Belvin of Garden Ridge, Texas; daughter Sharon [Steve] Schulz of Homer, Alaska; daughter Connie [Roland] of New Orleans, Louisiana; daughter Cyndy [George] of St. Croix, United States Virgin Island; granddaughter Ayla [Kyle] Otto of Wasilla, Alaska; grandson Luka Schulz of Anchorage, Alaska; grandson Monty [Kristi] Hammack of Hahira, Georgia; granddaughter Ashley [John] Hammack Norton of Thorndale, Texas; grandson Blake [ Malia] Graham of Tucson, Arizona; great grandsons Jace, Noah and Brody Otto of Wasilla, Alaska; great granddaughters Chesnee and Shelby and great grandsons Quinn and Fynn Hammack of Hahira, Georgia; great granddaughters Jaylyn and Jordyn and great grandson Coy Stutts of Thorndale, Texas; brothers Rolly [Elaine] Burke of Buda, Texas; Pat [Chris] Burke of Mirabar Beach, Florida; Bob [Becky] Burke of Spicewood, Texas; sister Katy [Lucky] Attal of Austin, Texas; and many, many family members from the Burke, Belvin and Friesen families. Great thanks to all of Rosie and Bobby’s thoughtful family, friends and neighbors for their continued love, support and prayers.

A memorial and celebration of Rosie’s life will be held at Coker Methodist church in San Antonio on Monday, September 18th, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Adam Knight presiding. A reception will follow at the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Rosie’s name to a charity of choice.