SOUTH YANKTON — Rosa “Rosie” Ernestine (Steffen) Dreesen, 90, South Yankton, died peacefully April 9, 2024, at Arbor Care Center, Hartington.

Mass of Christian Burial was April 13 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Constance, with Rev. Jim Keiter officiating.

Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery, Constance.

Pallbearers will be Joe Dreesen, Jeff Dreesen, Jimmy Dreesen, Robert Dreesen, Marty Dreesen, Chip Dreesen and Michael Dreesen.

Visitation, with a rosary and vigil service, were April 12 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation continued Saturday, one hour prior to services.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Rosie was born Aug. 31, 1933, to Joseph and Dorthea (Asbre) Steffen, Constance. Rosie attended school in Constance until the age of 12, when she began attending Holy Trinity in Hartington.Rosie cherished her time with “Pop,” on their drives from Hartington to Constance Friday afternoons, and loved to reminisce on her younger days.It was at the Cedar County Fair in 1950, through her brother, Danny, where Rosie and Kenny sparked a lifelong love. After graduating in 1951, Rosie and her sister, Theresa, moved to Portland, Ore., where their sister, Maggie, was living. The two worked various jobs including picking strawberries, canning in a pea factory, and working as clerks at Montgomery Wards.

During this period, Kenny was drafted, passing through Washington en route to Korea, with an attempted farewell from Rosie and Theresa (who skipped work at Mongomery Wards that day). Rosie returned to Constance shortly after, homesick.

Upon return from the war, Kenny asked for Rosie’s hand in marriage on May 11, 1954, followed by a wedding in the living room of the Steffen homestead August 11, 1954, and a road trip honeymoon to Pine Bluff,Wyo., the next day. Rosie and Kenny began their family shortly thereafter;having their eight children between 1955 and 1966. Kenny began managing a truck stop in South Yankton, purchasing it in 1956. The family owned and operated Kenny’s 24 Hr Service until 1976. In 1978, they purchased the Lazy D’ Saloon, running the business until 2010, when the doors closed after the final last call.

Rosie lived her life for her family; being the proudest, yet humble, matriarch there could be. As a devout Catholic, she wondered what Heaven would look like; remembering her sisters, brother, husband, and friends – looking forward to the day they would meet again. Always providing a listeningear, a comforting eye, a warm hug. An incredibly strong woman, she will be dearly missed by many.

Rosie is survived by many of her loving family including eight children, Joe (Conney) Dreesen, Omaha; Jeff (Julie Strong) Dreesen, Yankton, S.D.; Pam (Les) Jones, Crofton; Jimmy Dreesen, Charlottesville, Va.; Robert (Gwendollyn Gout) Dreesen, New York City, N.Y.; Marty (Barbra) Dreesen, Columbia, S.C.; Chip (Marta) Dreesen, Santiago, Chile; and Michael (Mary) Dreesen, Tulsa, Okla.; 16 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two brothers, George “Georgie” Steffen, Omaha, and Jimmy Steffen, Constance.

Rosie was preceded in death by her husband,Kenny; parents Joseph and Dorthea Steffen; siblings Freddie, Danny, Maggie, Helen, Theresa, Margie and Dolores.