Alma Magdalene (Besler) O'Rourke was born the third child of thirteen to Christian and Juliana Besler on April 28, 1924. She was born on the Besler homestead below Rabbit Butte in Perkins County near Bison, South Dakota. Her birth occurred in the original home, which was a sod house.

Alma attended country school through Fifth Grade. During a severe snowstorm walking home from school, she lost her glove. Her hand became severely frozen in a snowbank which prohibited her from continuing school that year. Alma's parents chose not to send her back to school, keeping her home to help with the younger children. Consequently, she never continued her formal education.

Alma met Lawence Cleo (Larry) O'Rourke through a mutual friend. Larry had just earlier served his country in the Army Air Corps. They were married on June 15, 1949. To this union were born two daughters: Gladys Carol (Robert) Jackson on June 14, 1951, and Lorraine Rose (Douglas) Decker on September 6, 1953. Larry would often joke that they got married on June 15, but Gladys was born on June 14! (He did not explain that it was June 14, two years later.) Alma used to get so angry about this, but Larry would just laugh, saying, "Now, Mama!"

When the couple was first married Larry was working on the WPA Project, building the Shadehill Dam. So, they bought a small, silver mobile home and lived in Lemmon, South Dakota during that time.

Later they moved to Bison where Larry began work as an Electrician Apprentice under Pete Deuschle. Larry and Alma purchased one of the original four sod houses from Francis and Bertha Jackson that sat on the four corners when Bison was incorporated. Larry's skills as an electrician assisted him to remodel the sod house for the soon-to-be little family.

Things appeared to be going well for the O'Rourke's -- until they missed a house payment. The story is told that Francis Jackson, who was a Golden Glove boxer and the father of Robert (Bob) Jackson, approached the homeowners for the house payment. A fight ensued and Francis cold-cocked Larry. This is a tale that Bob and Gladys laugh about today.

In 1953 Larry became ill. After only six years of marriage, Larry passed away from lung cancer in July of 1955. Gladys was four years old, and Lorraine was less than two. Alma never remarried. She always said that she lost the love of her life.

The small, three-person family continued to live in the soddy until 1969 when Gladys and Lorraine inherited $2,000, which they utilized as a down payment for a mobile home for their mother. Alma then began her life's journey of babysitting to help make her home payments. She would joke that she probably babysat for everyone's children at one time or another who lived in Bison. She enjoyed young children and was gifted in relating to them.

Alma was a devout Christian who loved her God and her church. She brought her daughters up to love Christ and His Word. Alma was a member of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Bison for over sixty years. She was a member of the Bison American Legion Auxiliary and the Bison PTA when her girls were in school.

Alma never learned to drive. She led a simple life consisting of her family, her faith, and her friends. She always had a cup of coffee on for anyone stopping by. She loved to attend and host coffee parties.

When Alma retired from full-time childcare, she sold her mobile home and moved into Homestead Heights in Bison, where she enjoyed many friendships and lots of coffee parties.

When Alma's eyesight began to worsen due to macular degeneration, she chose Tender Care Assisted Living in Spearfish, South Dakota for her next home, moving in when she was 89. She joined Hope Lutheran Church in Spearfish which she faithfully attended for five years. She lived at Tender Care amongst the beautiful gardens until on her 95th birthday she fell, fracturing her pelvis in three places. She then had to relocate to the Spearfish Canyon Healthcare Nursing Home. Alma loved the nurses and staff, and they loved her. She would consistently joke with them.

Alma rarely complained about things -- not even contracting Covid twice, shingles, colds, and influenza. Alma was a tough cooky but has been described by many as being just a joy; unless, of course, it was on a day she decided to be stubborn. She will be missed for her jokester personality. If you asked Alma on any given day how she was, she would always exclaim, "Ornery!"

Alma is preceded in death by her parents, sister Elsie (and Roy) Penor, brother Victor (and Pauline,) brother Elmer (and Ellen,) brother Oscar (and Mary,) sister Esther (and Jim) Haggart, brother Wayne, brother Ralph (and Renae,) brother Leland, sister-in-law Virginia, brother Darrell, brother Raymond, and her husband Lawrence.

She is survived by her daughters Gladys (Bob) Jackson, grandsons Darren and Derek and Lorraine (Douglas) Decker, grandsons Rourke, Dathan, Dalan (Elise,) and Janssen and granddaughters Summer (Gary) Dupler, Marya, Spring (Tuhin) Dasgupta, Courtland, Averylle (Ronit Bhardwaj,) Liberty (Tyrus) Mason, and twelve great-grandchildren. Survivors also include Alma's brothers LeRoy and Marlin Besler (Dorothy Ritz,) sisters-in-law Barbara and Linda Besler, Carol Shepherd (Tom) and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will begin at 9:30 am on August 4 at Hope Lutheran Church, 913 S. 34th St., Spearfish, SD.  Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am at the church. Burial will take place at 2:00 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery.  Cards can be mailed to Gladys Jackson, 1530 Buena Vista Rd., Spearfish, South Dakota 57783.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com