Darlene J. 'Dolly' Rose
February 14, 1932 - March 6, 2020
Funeral services for Darlene J. “Dolly” Rose, 88, of Chamberlain, SD, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2020, at St. James Catholic Church of Chamberlain, SD.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2020, at St. James Catholic Church of Chamberlain, SD, with a scripture service at 7 p.m.
Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Chamberlain, SD.
Darlene J. “Dolly” Rose died March 6, 2020, at Sanford University of South Dakota Medical Center of Sioux Falls, SD.
Darlene J. “Dolly” Rose was born Feb. 14, 1932, at Kimball, SD.
She attended school in Kimball, SD, where she was involved in many activities, including cheerleading and band. She graduated from Kimball High School of Kimball, SD, in 1950.
Dolly met a young and charming Roy Rose on the dance floor during high school. It took a bit of time until Roy finally worked up the nerve to ask her to marry him.
Dolly was united in marriage to Roy Rose on Nov. 15, 1950. A day Dolly fondly remembered where Roy and his brother, Virgil, went goose hunting that morning and brought back seven geese to clean all before the wedding!
And if that wasn’t romantic enough, Dolly spent the first day of her honeymoon pitching hay with Roy in the hayfields.
From this marriage, two children were born – Gary Rose and Cheryl Rose.
As a third generation on the family’s original homestead, Roy and Dolly raised their family on Rose L7 Ranch, north of Chamberlain, SD. Dolly quickly became acquainted with ranch life with the help of her mother-in-
law and father-in-law, Katie and Lee Rose. She was a jack of all trades; always willing to do whatever needed to be done. Dolly helped keep the ranch going all while raising a family and working in town. She worked at
the feed store, vet clinic and was well-known for her homemade bread while she worked as a cook in the Chamberlain Elementary School cafeteria.
Later in life she gladly came back to the ranch full-time to assume the position as ranch wife/bookkeeper – and perhaps her most important job of all, Grandma Dolly.
Dolly was a Grandma to many even if they were not related to her by blood. She took her role as Grandma and Great Grandma on with pride.
Anywhere she was, you could hear her talking about her grandkids. She helped raise her own three grandkids and has since then helped raise her great grandsons; still babysitting as recently as this past January.
Dolly was an active member of the West Point Community Club, the Friends and Neighbors Extension Club and the Prime Cattle Women’s Club.
Dolly frequently volunteered in numerous clubs, groups or anywhere needed in the community. She was especially fond of 4-H and volunteered several years as a judge at the Brule County Achievement Days. Dolly was a mainstay at Brule County Achievement Days from the time her kids were in 4-H through her grandchildren to today watching her great grandchildren. She enjoyed watching her great grandsons participate in 4-H and especially enjoyed the week before the county fair when they all came and made purple ribbon jelly in her basement.
Dolly will be remembered for many things. She made the best cinnamon rolls this side of the Missouri River and there were always cookies in the cookie jar at Dolly’s house. And much like the guy who fed 5,000 people
with two fish and five loaves of bread, Dolly had the ability to stretch a meal when Roy “forgot” to tell her about the three extra men coming for lunch. No one ever left Dolly’s house on an empty stomach.
She always had a garden and Dolly and Roy took great pride in being producers of the land. Dolly tried her hardest to teach as many as possible how to garden. Some pupils were more successful than others but we are sure they all appreciated the experience. In recent years, she was even able to pass the love of gardening down to her great grandsons.
From the beginning of their relationship all the way to the end, Roy and Dolly danced their way through life and marriage. Over the 69 years of their marriage, they have danced in ten different states and Canada in their adventures. Most recently in January, Roy and Dolly were dancing in Mesa, AZ. They met many friends while dancing, all of whom have become lifelong cherished friends and staples in their lives.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 69 years, Roy Rose of Chamberlain, SD; a sister-in-law, Ethel Gibbons of Rapid City, SD; a son, Gary Rose and wife, Tana of Chamberlain, SD; a daughter, Cheryl Rose of Rapid City, SD; a grandson, Todd Rose and wife, Sarah and their two sons, Donovan and Hunter of Volga, SD; Heidi Reis and husband, Shawn and three sons, Buster, Swade and Rope of Reliance, SD; Jesse Rose and wife, Becky and their four sons, Dusty, Austin, Ty and Lane of Chamberlain, SD; Amanda Graves and husband, Brian and their two children, Matteah and Madden of Mitchell, SD, and Marty Michalek and wife, Mandy and their four children, Garrett, Colton, Ryder and Tayzlee of Chamberlain, SD.
Hickey Funeral Chapel of Chamberlain, SD, will be in charge of arrangements.
The obituary may be seen at www.hickeyfuneralchapel.com.