Rosemary Merkel-Lutz, 96 of Spearfish, passed away peacefully at Fall River Health. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 1, 2026.

Rosemary was born on April 13, 1930, in Lodgepole, South Dakota to Fredrick and Katherina (Beck) Heauser. She was second oldest of eight children. She married Roy Merkel on June 28, 1949, and they farmed and ranched in the McIntosh/Isabel area until Roy passed away from a heart attack on February 3, 1979, at only 50 years old. Mom kept the farm going with the help of all the neighbors putting in the crops and harvesting them the first year after Roy’s death, then leasing a few years before finally selling the land. She moved to Isabel after selling the farm and was the Head Cook for the Isabel School District for 15 years. She met Arnold (Shorty) Lutz while living in Isabel and they were married on January 28, 1983. They had many happy years traveling and dancing (Mom’s favorite thing to do) before Shorty passed away. Another love of Mom’s was baking cakes and decorating them for special occasions with Viola Schuh. Viola and Mom were master bakers and the cakes they baked were absolutely beautiful; you didn’t want to ruin them by eating them.

Shorty and Mom had moved to Mobridge, South Dakota before his passing and after he passed Mom traveled to 10 foreign countries: China, Alaska, and went on a river boat cruise with Alan and Cindy in Oregon. While living in Mobridge, Mom met Dale Schell and they travelled to Apache Junction, Arizona for over 20 years in the wintertime to get away from the cold and of course to dance. Mom eventually sold the house in Mobridge, and we built a Mom’s Suite onto Alan and Cindy’s house which became her summer home (Winter if she wanted).

Rosemary was a member of the Isabel Baptist Church and an active member of the Ladies Group, Liberty Bells.

She will be greatly missed by her sons, Gary (Beth), Alan (Cindy); Daughters-in-Law, Jeanne, Beth, and Cindy; Friend, Dale Schell; Grandchildren, Travis (Shannon), Mirra, and Kari; Great Grandchildren, Abigail, Kaelyn, Ender, and Phoebe.

She is preceded in death by sons, Steven and Todd, her mom and dad, sisters, and brothers.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish. Burial will follow the service at Black Hills National Cemetery.

All monetary gifts will be donated to the Evangelical Free Church in Hot Springs and United Church of Christ Congregational in Spearfish.

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