Marlys Roskens

Marlys Ann Roskens passed away peacefully at Ava’s House surrounded by her three loving children.  

To watch her funeral mass virtually please see the link listed below:

https://vimeo.com/1174528266/2c97f6460c?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Marlys was born to Elmer and Audrey (Johnson) Serreyn in Tyler, MN on June 29, 1949.  She was the oldest of nine children.  Marlys’s father died in an accident when she was five years old.  Her mother then married Roy Steffes, settling in the Ivanhoe, MN area.  She was always grateful that her parents didn’t leave her often to babysit her siblings.  However, she did do a lot of babysitting for other families in the area.

Some of her fondest memories growing up came from the fun she had playing outside with her siblings and cousins.  After turning 16, she loved going to the Showboat Ballroom in Lake Benton, MN, fostering in her a love of concerts she would take with her for the rest of her life.

Marlys graduated from Ivanhoe High School in 1967.  During high school, she worked as a switchboard operator at Devine Providence Hospital. Upon graduation, she went to Canby Vocational-Technical School in Canby, MN.  She graduated from there in 1968 and moved to Sioux Falls where she took a job with Dan Dugan Transport.  Later she spent many years providing daycare in her home.  She cherished the relationships she built with her “adopted” children.  

She met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Roskens, in January 1969.  They were united in marriage on May 29, 1971.  They were fortunate to have three healthy children, Denise, Jeff, and Troy, who became their pride and joy.  Marlys and Bob enjoyed couples bowling, dancing, and following their children’s activities. In 1987, Bob took a job as the business manager for the Freeman School District and they moved the family to Freeman, SD.  Tragically, Bob passed away from a heart attack in September 1988.

In August 1992, Marlys moved her family back to Sioux Falls and enrolled in classes at the University of Sioux Falls.  While there she worked hard to achieve good grades and make the dean’s list after Troy told her she expected good grades from her children so they expected good grades from her.  She found that comment sobering, realizing she would have to set an example.  She stepped up to the task and succeeded,  graduating with honors and receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in education.She went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Reading Teacher Education from the University of Sioux Falls while teaching full-time. 

Marlys’s first teaching job was at Franklin Elementary as a Title One teacher.  She taught mostly reading her first year.  The next year she was elated to be selected to be trained as a Reading Recovery teacher, her dream job.  She spent the next three years as a Reading Recovery teacher.  She moved to Terry Redlin Elementary School the first year it opened.  In 1999, an opportunity arose to move to Hayward Elementary to share a classroom with her dear friend, Shirley Erickson, where they would each spend half of the day teaching first grade and half of the day teaching Reading Recovery.  They did this for eight years until Shirley retired and served her with a “divorce” she did not want.  Marlys went on to become a full-time Reading Recovery teacher until the district cut funding for this vital program (another “divorce” she did not want), sending her back into the classroom as a full-time first grade teacher until her retirement in 2017.  Marlys was passionate about reading, giving every child she knew books every time she saw them.  She encouraged friends and family to read to their children from conception forward.  She also spent many years tutoring children in her home, finding joy in watching them grow and become successful readers.

Marlys’s greatest accomplishment was raising three children as a single mom.  She was proud of all of their accomplishments, especially that all three went on to graduate from university.  She enjoyed the many trips they took together over the years.  Highlights include traveling to Italy for her son and daughter-in-law’s wedding, and most recently visiting Hawaii, a lifelong dream of hers.  Marlys’s greatest joy in life came in October 2024 when her grandson, Neil Finn, was born.  

Marlys is survived by her three children, Denise Roskens of Sioux Falls, SD, Jeffrey Roskens of Sioux Falls, SD, Troy Roskens (Amanda Johnson) of Denver, CO; her grandson, Neil Roskens-Johnson; her siblings, Lonny (Barbara) Serreyn, Roger Serreyn, Joann (George) Frankenberry, Lois (Mark) Verhelst, Linda (Leslie) Blegen, Duane (Kim) Steffes, Amy (Kevin) Raether; her sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Sheila VantHul, Keith (Paula) Roskens, and Sheryl (Eric) Smith; and many nieces, nephews, and their children.  Marlys also had many special friends and cousins who were as close as family to her.  

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert (Bob) Roskens; father Elmer Serreyn; wonderful parents Audrey and Roy Steffes; beautiful sister Barbara Christion; brothers-in-law David Poss, Richard Berger, John Christion, and Edward VantHul; and many cousins with whom she shared fond memories. 

In lieu of flowers, Marlys requested before her passing that donations be made in her honor to The Promising Futures Fund

 https://promisingfuturesfund.org

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, with lunch and fellowship to follow.

Family will be present for visitation at Heritage Funeral Home on Monday, March 16, 2026, from 4:00–6:00 p.m., with a wake service beginning at 6:00 p.m.