Rosemarie Melius
July 27, 1926 ~ January 13, 2007
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Rosemarie Melius, 80, of Faulkton passed away Saturday, January 13, 2007 at her home.
Funeral services were 10:30am, Thursday, January 18, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Cresbard with Rev. Gregory Hinners and Pastor Jared Melius officiating. Burial was in the Faulkton Cemetery, directed by the Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton. Visitation was 1:00-7:00pm Wednesday with a prayer service at 7pm at the funeral home.
Rosemarie was born July 27, 1926 to Fred and Erika (Russmann) Swanhorst in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Wecota Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota. She went to school in Cresbard, graduating in 1944. After graduation, she entered St. Luke’s Nursing School in Aberdeen as a US Cadet Nurse. She worked as an RN at St. Luke’s in the surgical department until November 1949.
She married Claire Melius on November 20, 1949 at Wecota Immanuel Lutheran Church. They lived on the family farm northeast of Faulkton until they bought a farm four miles south of Chelsea. In 1961, they purchased a farm one and a half miles west of the family farm where they lived until they retired one mile east of Faulkton in 1985.
Some of the things that brought joy to Rosemarie and those around her included knitting gifts for family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, scrap booking and was an avid walker. Her greatest joy was to see people she had touched throughout her life experience the same love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus that she enjoyed all her life.
Rosemarie was actively involved in Concordia Lutheran LWML, American Heart Association, Busy Bee Club, various Bible study groups, Faulk County American Cancer Society Board, and was a supporter of the Faulkton Community Center and the Faulk County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Rosemarie is survived by her children: Orin (Phylis) Melius, Faulkton; Conrad (Diana) Melius, East Wenatchee, WA; Tamara (Lynn) Borcherding, Menomonie, WI; Dwight (Denise) Melius, Northville; Doyle (Joyce) Melius, Yakima, WA; Joel (Dawn) Melius, Faulkton; and Kristi (Tim) Prince, Miller; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four brothers: Eldon (Karen) Swanhorst, Spearfish; David (Hedi) Swanhorst, Aberdeen; John (Donna) Swanhorst, Spearfish; and Bob (Trish) Swanhorst, Sioux Falls; one sister-in-law: Joetta Swanhorst, Cresbard; two brothers-in-law: Marvin Melius, Faulkton and Orvil (Irene) Melius, Faulkton.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; great-grandson Jonathan Melius; and one brother, Siegfried.
Funeral services were 10:30am, Thursday, January 18, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Cresbard with Rev. Gregory Hinners and Pastor Jared Melius officiating. Burial was in the Faulkton Cemetery, directed by the Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton. Visitation was 1:00-7:00pm Wednesday with a prayer service at 7pm at the funeral home.
Rosemarie was born July 27, 1926 to Fred and Erika (Russmann) Swanhorst in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Wecota Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota. She went to school in Cresbard, graduating in 1944. After graduation, she entered St. Luke’s Nursing School in Aberdeen as a US Cadet Nurse. She worked as an RN at St. Luke’s in the surgical department until November 1949.
She married Claire Melius on November 20, 1949 at Wecota Immanuel Lutheran Church. They lived on the family farm northeast of Faulkton until they bought a farm four miles south of Chelsea. In 1961, they purchased a farm one and a half miles west of the family farm where they lived until they retired one mile east of Faulkton in 1985.
Some of the things that brought joy to Rosemarie and those around her included knitting gifts for family and friends. She also enjoyed gardening, scrap booking and was an avid walker. Her greatest joy was to see people she had touched throughout her life experience the same love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus that she enjoyed all her life.
Rosemarie was actively involved in Concordia Lutheran LWML, American Heart Association, Busy Bee Club, various Bible study groups, Faulk County American Cancer Society Board, and was a supporter of the Faulkton Community Center and the Faulk County Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Rosemarie is survived by her children: Orin (Phylis) Melius, Faulkton; Conrad (Diana) Melius, East Wenatchee, WA; Tamara (Lynn) Borcherding, Menomonie, WI; Dwight (Denise) Melius, Northville; Doyle (Joyce) Melius, Yakima, WA; Joel (Dawn) Melius, Faulkton; and Kristi (Tim) Prince, Miller; 17 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four brothers: Eldon (Karen) Swanhorst, Spearfish; David (Hedi) Swanhorst, Aberdeen; John (Donna) Swanhorst, Spearfish; and Bob (Trish) Swanhorst, Sioux Falls; one sister-in-law: Joetta Swanhorst, Cresbard; two brothers-in-law: Marvin Melius, Faulkton and Orvil (Irene) Melius, Faulkton.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; great-grandson Jonathan Melius; and one brother, Siegfried.
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Our condolences at the death of your mother, God bless.
We were so sorry to hear of Rosemarie’s passing.
She was such a lovely and friendly lady.
Our sympathy to her family.
Bob and Mary Carol
Just want you all to know that we have been praying for all of you during this time of the unexpected death of Rosemarie…..I still think it’s just a bad dream. In my mind I always figured she’d live to be 100.
I was going to get a bouquet of flowers but remembered how many Claire had at his funeral. I’m wondering if you have a type of memorial we can donate to?
God be with you all. We will see you tomorrow at the prayer service.
Peace in Christ~
camille tuscherer
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May you find comfort in God during this difficult time.
We miss you, (Great) Grandma! We know you will be waiting for us in heaven with a pot of coffee and your special molasses cookies.
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Rosemarie. I just talked with her last week at the basketball game.
She was such a nice lady and she surely will have many loving thoughts and prayers directed her way.
our Sympathies and prayers are with all her family who will miss her so very much.
Terry and Carol Witte
Dear Cousins and all of the family members of Aunt Rosemarie and Uncle Claire.
I was so sadden to hear of the passing of your beloved Mom, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother Rosemarie, and just a year after Uncle Claire’s passing.
I feel so lucky that I made that trip to Faulkton in July 2005 and was able to see my aunt and uncle one last time.
Two weeks ago I received a lovely note from Aunt Rosemarie. In it she reminded me that in 1949 they came to California on their honeymoon and stayed with my parents, Roy & LaVerne (Melius) Buckley. I sent her an email and reminded her that I was only 7 at the time, and now I am also a great grandmother. How fast time goes by.
She and Uncle Claire will always be remembered in my heart. My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
love, JoAnne Cook
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time. Rosemarie was a great lady and we know she will be missed greatly. We were fortunate to share Thanksgiving dinner with her at Uncle John and Aunt Donna’s and enjoyed her company so much. Treasure all of the great memories.
Greg & Ellen
Very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Hi,
Thinking of you all. Rosemarie was my favorite aunt. She was always so graciou, friendly and kind. You are all lucky to have a mother like her. Karen
I was so shocked and heartsick to hear of Rosemarie’s death. Yet as it sunk in, I realized it was a selfish sadness because we all know Rosemarie and Claire are together again and that Rosemarie did not suffer a prolonged illness and death, which is truly a blessing. It is not until you are an adult that you learn to appreciate your relatives as special individuals, not just the wonderful aunts and uncles that were always such a huge part of my life. Rosemarie was just soooo kind and thoughtful—that’s my overwhelming memory of her goodness. She was always so kind to send me notes of prayers and concern when my husband was hospitalized. Her true legacy is her family. I will truly miss her.