Rosamae (Rose) Kimball, age 97

Rosamae (Rose) Kimball

    Rosamae (Rose) Kimball, age 97, passed peacefully and went home to her heavenly mansion on August 9, 2016. After two weeks in the hospital and five days at the Good Samaritan in New Underwood, she was unable to recover from a sudden attack due to a tear in her aorta.
    Rosamae was born June 22, 1919, on her Grandfather Flisram's farm home near Bonesteel, SD. She was the oldest of three children born to John Bernard and Nora (Flisram) Bonenberger. Her parents intentionally named her with no middle name, just Rosamae.
    She attended schools in Bonesteel and Mission, and graduated from high school one year early in 1936 from Gordon, NE. After graduation she moved with her family to Belvidere, where she met and married her first husband, John (Jack) Clark on November 10, 1936. To this marriage three children were born - Sherie, John (Butch), and Betty.
    She married Edgar Kimball on February 4, 1946 and they were married over fifty-one years until Edgar's passing in 1997. One son, Roger, was born to this marriage.
    Rose and Edgar moved frequently in their early years pursuing a variety of jobs and later co-owned a  farm/ranch west of Belvidere, a bulk gas and propane plant in Kadoka, and a motel in Lake Andes.
    In the midst of her joint endeavers with Edgar, Rose carved out her own career as an elementary school teacher. With only her high school diploma and a temporary teaching permit, her first teaching job was in 1950 at a one-room rural school. From this beginning she went on to teach a total of 17 1/2 years at seven different schools including eight years at Kadoka. She spent numerous summers attending college to renew her teaching permit and to determinely pursue her bachelor's degree which she earned in 1971 from Black Hills State College. In 1960, Rose was elected as Jackson County Treasurer and served one term in Kadoka, and then returned to teaching.
    She and Edgar retired and moved to Rapid City in 1983. With Edgar until his death and then alone, Rose lived independently in the same house in west Rapid City for nearly thirty-three years. She was still driving at age 95.
    Although she enjoyed different hobbies over the years including drawing, ceramics, puzzles, reading and old television programs, her primary joy was spending time with family and friends. Her compassion and benevolence for others is reflected in her actions and deeds. She diligently cared for Edgar for over twenty-three years following his stroke in 1974 which left him partially paralyzed. She also befriended two retired ladies whom she faithfully visited, drove to appointments, and regularly took to lunch for over ten years. Over the years, she was generous in giving to numerous religious and charitable organizations.
    She joined an Episcopal church as a teen-ager and although she was never an official member, she attended and supported Canyon Lake United Methodist Church for nearly thirty-three years. She participated in United Methodist Women and several Bible study groups.
    She is survived by her daughter, Sherie (Ken) Steege of Sacramento, CA; her son, Roger (Arvella) of Rapid City;  12 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; 27 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Delores Bonenberger, Belvidere and Anna Mae Kimball, Duluth, MN; one aunt, Lavina Grosshuesch, Billings, MT; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edgar; her son, Butch; her daughter, Betty; her sister, Corrine Morford; and her brother, John Bonenberger, Jr.
    She was blessed with a long and healthy life. She shared her love, caring and generosity with many and was an inspiration to most who knew her.
    A memorial has been established to Canyon Lake United Methodist Church for Vacation Bible School, and to Good Samaritan Society New Underwood.
    Friends may sign Rose’s online guestbook at the funeral home’s website.
    Services and burial have taken place.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
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