Carmen Rausch

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Cresbard with Pastor Gregory Hinners officiating. Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Wecota. A prayer service was held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the church in Cresbard.

Carmen was born July 31, 1953 to Marvin and Ina (Hill) Holsing at Avera St. Luke’s. She was raised on the farm by Cresbard and attended grade school and high school in Cresbard as well. She graduated in the class of 1971. She furthered her education at Presentation College in Aberdeen by completing her nurse’s training in 1975.

Carmen married her high school sweetheart, Richard Duane Rausch, on June 14, 1974, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Cresbard, SD. By the grace of God, with faith and love they raised six children. The family lived in a variety of locations from 1975-1985, including Brookings, Tolstoy, Onaka, Peirz, MN and Cody, WY. In 1985, Rick and Carmen and the growing family returned to the Cresbard area. The family business, Rausch Ranching Services, was established and Carmen ran the house and family and assisted as secretary for the business for Rick. From 1999 to the current time the family is ranching at Onaka, SD. She worked at the Faulkton Heath Care Center from 2002-2005 as an RN.

Carmen has always been known for her enormous, caring, faith-filled heart. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School for the past 33 years and often commented on how much a person can learn from teaching. She also greatly enjoyed gardening, spending time with her family and, of course, her grandchildren. She would never give up an opportunity to see them and play with them. They will most remember her for her singing and story telling. She was always a strong rock, leaning fully on God and the knowledge of the gift of life He gives us so freely.

Carmen is survived by her parents, Marvin and Ina (Hill) Holsing-Aberdeen; her husband, Rick- Onaka; her three sons and three daughters, Glen Rausch- Cresbard and Sarah Rausch- Chelsea, Ann (Cody) Lee- Aberdeen, Bob (Trisha) Rausch- Onaka, Amy (Eric) Johnson- Aberdeen, Kimberly Rausch- Selby, Kirk Rausch- SDSM & T, Rapid City; her ten grandchildren, Rachel, Andrea, Cody and Logan Rausch, Avery, Jacob and Riley Lee, Joshua and Luke Rausch and Ally Jean Johnson; her three sisters Cheryl (Jerry ) Markovetz- Ipswich, Charlotte (Jay) Barondeau- Onaka, Cathy Eli- Vancouver, WA; her mother-in-law, Janice (Duane) Rausch- Aberdeen; her twelve brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeannie (Leonard) Heim- Winner, Cindy (Mike) Schlosser- Lake Park, MN, Pam (Kevin) Holt- Cresbard, Gary (Twila) Rausch- Onaka, Shellie (Owen) Melius- Olathe, KS, Kay (Scott) McGaugh- Alpena, Deb (Joel) Owens- Mitchell, Tim Rausch- Florence, MT, Kristie (Jon) Beal- Missoula, MT, Peg (Lee) Goetz- Aberdeen; Troy (Lovette) Rausch- Harrah, OK, and Chad (Kristie) Rausch- Miller; as well as a very large number of nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family request no flowers, Carmen has requested that memorials be sent to the Alpha Center which is a non-profit, pro-life, support center for unplanned pregnancies. The address is 801 East 41st Street, Sioux Falls SD 57105.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Carmen's arrangements.

CLERGY
Pastor Gregory Hinners

CASKETBEARERS
Rick Rausch
Glen Rausch
Bob Rausch
Kirk Rausch
Cody Lee
Eric Johnson

USHERS
Wynn Holsing
Sheldon Finley

ORGANIST
Charlotte Barondeau

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
"Rock of Ages"
"God's Only Child, I'll Gladly Say It"
"My Faith Looks Up To Thee"
"Chief of Sinners Though I Be"

INTERMENT
Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Wecota, South Dakota