October 26, 1930 – February 13, 2026______________
Frank Rosenau, 95, of Lemmon passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026. His funeral service was on February 21, at his ranch followed by burial in Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.
Franklin Otto Rosenau was born October 26, 1930 in Dupree to Otto and Ruth Rosenau. The family resided in a small homestead near Thunder Butte until 1936, when they moved to Raymond.
In 1945 Frank left high school. He spent time doing odd jobs. When he was about 18, he began employment on the flood control projects of the Missouri River. He was hired as a mechanic’s helper and soon moved to test driving the machines. Many times, instead of taking lunch breaks, he would ride along with an operator and learn about the machine. He worked on the Garrison Dam, the Fort Randall Dam, and the Oahe Dam at Ft. Pierre. He loved the challenge and the time of learning about the big machines.
On July 29,1957, Frank married Arleen Miles at Gettysburg. Five children were born to this union: Joel, Adeline, Joyce, Jennifer, and Kay Lynn.
In 1964, they bought the grocery store in Lebanon. The store was successful. Frank then purchased a semi and trailer and started hauling corn out west at night. He also completed deliveries and any repairs that needed to be done during the day.
In 1970 Frank bought the US Air Force radar base north of Gettysburg. The family resided there until moving to Lemmon in 1988, where Frank and Joel continued doing dirt work. Their new home was near the lake. Frank loved waterskiing; therefore, it was the perfect location for entertaining friends and family.
Even in his last years, Frank had successfully water skied at age 90. Frank continued working in any way he could. Although, in the last days just moving from the chair to his scooter had gotten to be work, he was still planning to go dig in the dirt come spring.
After Arleen passed in 1999, Frank remarried. His last wife JoAnn passed in 2023.
Thankful for sharing his life are his daughters Adeline Bird, Joyce (Todd) Peterson, Jennifer Rosenau, and Kay Lynn (Trent) Sonsalla; stepchildren Steve, Tim, Jill, and Joye and their families; grandchildren Denver, Joshua, and Genesis Rosenau; Moriah, Jessica, Catherine, and James Bird; Lacy, Augustus, Katie, and April Peterson; Kiyoko, Hana, and Hiroshi Picklesimer; Troy, Emily, Jimal and Rosie Storm; brothers, Darrell and Fred Rosenau; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Those who preceded him in death are his parents; his sisters Helen, Clara, and Adeline; his wives, Arleen and JoAnn; his son Joel and his grandson Guy Peterson.
(The family’s address is 11162 Hwy 73, Lemmon, SD 57638.)