Rose Marie Prien

Rose Marie Prien, age 96 of Scotland, formerly of Tripp, SD died on Thursday, August 14, 2025, surrounded by her daughters, at the Good Samaritan Society–Scotland.

Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Sunday, August 17 at First American Lutheran Church in Tripp. Her funeral is 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 18 at First American Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Grace Hill Cemetery, Tripp.

Rosie was born on April 21, 1929, in Wagner, South Dakota. It was not until after Rosie retired that she discovered her birthday was not April 26, as she had celebrated her entire life. Rosie is the second of three children born to Lloyd and Rose (Petrik-Chytka) Wright of Ravinia, South Dakota. Her mother’s first husband, Emil Chytka, died nine years after they were married and she later remarried, Lloyd Wright, who was Rosie’s father.

Henry “Heine” Prien married Rosie on October 15, 1946, at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkston with Rev. Martin Amelung performing the ceremony. They met at a dance and continued to do so throughout their lives, dancing together often until Heine was nearly 90. They were married 73 years when Heine passed away on his birthday, April 8, 2020. Together they were blessed with five children: Cheryl, Dick, Karen “Pinky,” Yvonne, and Henry.

In January of 1947, Heine and Rosie moved to Armour for a short time until July of 1947, when they moved to Tripp where Heine owned a blacksmith shop. Together for many years, they hosted annual Memorial Day and 4th of July potluck picnics in the front yard for friends and family and no one ever went home hungry.

In 1961, Rosie began work at the Selective Service Office in Tripp. When the Tripp office closed, she continued at the Mitchell office until it was discontinued in May 1974. In July of 1974, she began employment with the Empire Gas Company in Parkston as the office manager. In July of 1982, the business was sold to Terry’s Propane, operating at the same location. She continued as the office manager for 20 years until 1994 when she retired.

After retirement, Rosie was often found doing all the things she loved: gardening, mowing, tending her flowers, cooking, baking and cleaning. It seemed she was always in the kitchen whether she was canning (pickles, chicken, or something from the garden) or baking kuchen, kolaches or cinnamon rolls. She beamed at cooking a meal for her family. It did not matter if it was macaroni & cheese for the great and grandkids, a holiday spread, Sunday’s dinner of noodle soup and mashed potatoes. She always had a pan of chocolate cake with caramel frosting (best served with heavy cream) or dessert of some type. When family stayed over, pancakes were served at 6:00 a.m. and you had to be up early if you wanted some.

In December of 2015, Heine and Rosie moved to the Good Samaritan Society–Tripp. Rosie was happy to be folding whatever the laundry department had for her. In March of 2018, Heine and Rosie moved to Good Samaritan Society–Scotland, after the Tripp location closed. She continued folding laundry there until earlier this year.

Rosie was a member of the Tripp Auxiliary Post #142 since 1947 and served as post president and secretary. She was a member of First American Lutheran Church in Tripp since July 11, 1948, and a member of the WMF (Women’s Mission Federation) and served as president and secretary as well.

Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Cheryl (John) Hirsch of Sioux Falls; Dick Prien of Chugiak, Alaska; Karen (Roger) Huether of Tripp; Yvonne (Chris) Gall of Tripp; and Henry (Anita) Prien of Fargo, ND; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Emily Vandemheen of Okeechobee, Florida and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ernest Wright; five stepsiblings, Frank Chytka, Louie Chytka (in infancy), Joe Chytka, Ray Chytka and Helen Chytka-Hrdlicka; daughter-in-law, Sharon Prien and granddaughter, Teresa Huether.

The entire Prien family wishes to thank each and every worker at Good Samaritan Society–Tripp, Good Samaritan Society–Scotland and AseraCare Hospice for your compassion, your kind words, your care of Rosie. Whether it was in the beginning or end of her stay, in the dining room, in the laundry room, or in her room, we cannot express our appreciation enough. “May the Lord reward you for your kindness" Ruth 1:8