Rosanne Spiehs, age 65, of Wolsey, died Sunday, November 12, 2017, at her home. Her funeral service was held at 10:30 AM Friday, November 17 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wolsey. Burial was in the Pukwana Cemetery at Pukwana.
Rosanne Genevieve Swanson Spiehs was born December 4, 1951, at Chamberlain, South Dakota to Walter Dale and Elizabeth Moline Swanson. Her early years were spent in the Kimball area. In her mid-elementary school years, she moved with her family to Pukwana and graduated from Kimball High School. Rosanne attended South Dakota State University and transferred to Mount Marty College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics.
A career in banking eventually led her to Tea, South Dakota, where she served as a vice-president of Valley Exchange Bank. Although banking was her vocation, her avocation was music. An accomplished organist and pianist, Rosanne began playing for church services when she was in the eighth grade. She continued as a church organist and pianist for almost fifty years. Music played a significant role in her life as she shared her gift as an accompanist for choirs, numerous vocal and instrumental soloists and for competitions.
Serving as church organist led to a special blessing when the new pastor at the church turned out to be Scott Spiehs. They were married November 11, 1994, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.
Volunteering in her church and community was important to Rosanne. She served on the Board of Directors of the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home and was an active member of the Huron Concert Association and the Lutheran Women's Missionary League. She was also a proud "mama" of the Wolsey-Wessington Warbird family. Baking for her family, but especially for the "neighborhood boys" was an enjoyable activity for Rosanne.
Left to cherish her memory are her beloved family members: her husband, Rev. Scott Spiehs of Wolsey; her son, Seth Spiehs of Wolsey; seven brothers, Dale Swanson, John (Susan) Swanson, Emiel (Diana) Swanson, Edward Swanson, Charles (Wendy) Swanson and Richard (Kim) Swanson, all of Pukwana, and Jesse (Melissa) Swanson of Portland, Oregon; five sisters, Nannette Martin of Nebraska City, Nebraska, Priscilla Swanson, Laurie (George) Bredehoft and Julie Eggert, all of Portland, Oregon, and Hollie (Cameron) Dingle of Lexington, Kentucky; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Roberta Ringgenberg; a sister-in-law, Wanda Swanson; and two brothers-in-law, Martin Eggert and Rev. Terry Martin.