Rose Marie "Rosie" Harrison

RAPID CITY - Rose Marie "Rosie" Harrison, 73, longtime ranchwife of Hermosa, died at their Rapid City home on Tues., June 19, 2007. Rosie was born in Wadena, MN on Sept. 24, 1933 to Elmer and Rosann Denevan. The Denevan's were a family of eight children. Rosie moved to Rapid City at age 15 and began working in nursing. Wesley R. Harrison met Rose Marie Denevan and the two were married on Jan. 9, 1953. Wes and Rosie ranched and lived in the Hermosa area for all their married life. Rosie was an active Does member, and was involved with Cowbells and other agricultural related organizations which supported the ranching industry. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her life. She had the joy of being a "gramma" to six grandchildren and recently was ecstatic to learn she was soon to become a "great-gramma." Rosie was a treasured wife, mother and gramma who passionately loved and connected the entire family. She remained actively involved with all of her siblings throughout the United States as well as many nieces and nephews. She was full of energy and love. She had an eye for interior design and decoration and brought beauty and inspiration to every home she lived in. She liked to cook and bake especially sweets such as cookies and cakes. She loved having tea parties with her daughters and granddaughters and collected many tea cups throughout her years. She focused intensely on family and entertaining and was always coordinating the next get-together. She loved singing with her sister and grandkids as well as playing cards and dominos. She liked to win! She liked to take care of flowers and plants and had a gift for putting together floral arrangements. Some of her favorite things included candles, knick-knacks, and photographs. She also loved animals, especially calico cats, and enjoyed the birds who nested in her flowers each spring. She was always up for shopping and going out to lunch. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling the world and cruising in particular. She was planning her next cruise adventure this time to be the Mediterranean. Rosie will always be remembered for her legacy of passionately living life to the fullest and encouraging everyone else to do the same. She is survived by her husband, Wes Harrison of Hermosa; four children, Zackoree Harrison of Durango, Colo., Cindy (Jim) Lucas of Spearfish, Scott Harrison of Hermosa, Karen (Eddie) Rypkema of Rapid City; six grandchildren, Dustin (Dori) Harrison of Vancouver, Canada, Alissa Harrison of Hong Kong, Brianna Bernal of Havlock, NC, Leah (Chris) Schwartz of Lead, April and Aubree Rypkema of Rapid City; her brother, Don (Shirley) Denevan of Rapid City; three sisters, Betty (Melvin) Sorenson of Bella Vista, Ark., Jeanie (Ted) Sadler of Soldatna, Alaska, Mary Jane (Earl) Dodson of Gravette, Ark.; two sisters-in-law, Jean Denevan of Cherry Valley, Ark., June Denevan of Lander, Wyo.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Leonard and James Denevan, and her sister, Phyllis Ann Stephenson. Visitation will be at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City on Friday from 5pm to 7pm, and then for one hour before services on Saturday. Services are set for 10:30am Sat., June 23, 2007 at Kirk Funeral Home's Chapel of Light, with the Rev. Jim Roberts officiating. A luncheon and time of fellowship will follow downstairs at the Elks Lodge in Rapid City. Interment will be at Highland Park Cemetery in Hermosa at 2:00pm Saturday. A memorial has been established to the National Student Loan Endowment, B.P.O. Does #33 of Rapid City. Friends may sign Rosie's guestbook online at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.