April 13, 1930 - August 1, 2026_________________________________________
Rosemary Merkel-Lutz, 96, of Spearfish passed away at Fall River Health on August 1, 2026.
Funeral services were held August 6 at the United Church of Christ in Spearfish. Burial followed at Black Hills National Cemetery.
Rosemary was born on April 13, 1930, in Lodgepole 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. Rosemary kept the farm going with the help of all the neighbors 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 before Shorty passed away.
Shorty and Rosemary had moved to Mobridge. After he passed she traveled to 10 foreign countries, including China, and to Alaska and a river boat cruise in Oregon. While living in Mobridge, Rosemary met Dale Schell and they travelled to Apache Junction, AZ for over 20 years in the wintertime to get away from the cold and of course to dance.
Rosemary was a member of the Isabel Baptist Church and an active member of the Ladies Group, Liberty Bells.
Rosemary is survived by her sons, Gary and Alan; daughters-in-law Jeanne, Beth, and Cindy; friend Dale Schell; grandchildren Travis (Shannon), Mirra, and Kari; and great-grandchildren Abigail, Kaelyn, Ender, and Phoebe.
She is preceded in death by her sons, Steven and Todd, her parents, sisters, and brothers.
Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish were in charge of arrangements.