Marion Elaine Roos, Sioux Falls, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 11th at the age of 93.  A celebration of life will be held at 1:30 on Saturday, October 19th at Faith Baptist Fellowship.  Visitation with family will occur Friday, October 18th from 5-7pm at Miller Funeral Home Southside Chapel, 7400 South Minnesota Avenue, with a prayer service and time of sharing to follow at 7:00.

Marion was born May 26, 1926 in Kasota, MN, to Clarence and Stella (Rydberg) Johnson, the oldest of four children.  Her family moved to St Peter, MN when she was eleven.  She excelled in school and played the oboe.  Upon completing high school, Marion received her nursing degree under the cadet nursing program at St Cloud Hospital, graduating in 1947.  She accepted an assignment to work at Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington, MN.  It was there that she met John Roos, and they were married December 20, 1948.   They made their home in Sioux Falls where they raised their four daughters, Christine, Nancy, Kathy and Annette.   John and Marion enjoyed 46 years of marriage until John's passing in 1995.

When all the girls were in school, Marion went to work at McKennan Hospital (now Avera), where she spent thirty three years of her nursing career.  While there, she petitioned the Board of Directors to begin a hospice program, the first in the state.  In 1982 she became its first nurse.  As the program grew, she was promoted to be the director.  In many communities throughout the state, she encouraged participation.  Her commitment to hospice, which resulted from caring for her mother during Stella's battle with pancreatic cancer, influenced and continues to benefit many.  She was always caring for and lending a hand to anyone in need.

Marion was a very active member of Central Baptist Church, teaching Sunday school, leading GMG and women's ministry, playing the piano and serving as a deaconess and in other roles.  She enjoyed leading and participating in Bible study throughout her life, and faithfully studied and applied God's Word.

She also enjoyed travel and had the opportunity to travel internationally to Japan when Kathy and Paul lived there, to Greece, and to Lithuania to visit her granddaughter Sarah.  Many other trips in the United States provided time with family and friends.  She also enjoyed the game of golf in later years.

Marion was an excellent seamstress and became a prolific quilter.  Many, many pieced and hand-stitched quilts of all sizes were shared with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and others.  All are loved and cherished.  She valued the friendships that resulted.

When the Regent apple tree overtook the back yard at home and produced an abundance of apples, she shared them freely with friends and family.  More importantly, she made the best crust (with lard), and a tradition of pie making in the fall resulted in countless pies being produced with Nancy's family.  She was well known for her apple pie.

Door County was a favorite place to visit in her later years, and she celebrated her 80 ^th and 85 ^th birthdays there with the girls and their spouses.  She thoroughly enjoyed a game of Rook with the grandkids late into the night, and participated in many a White Elephant Party at the Arneson's home.

Marion's acquaintance with Henry Hannemann through church developed into a very close relationship which enriched her life.  They enjoyed each other's company for several years, sharing meals, visiting with friends, attending church and praying together.

Marion's faith was central to her life.  The Lord Jesus was precious to her and guided her throughout her life.  She desired that all would become acquainted with Jesus who died for each of us and who offers us eternal life through faith in Him.

Among those who survive and who gratefully shared her life are her four daughters, Christine Duke, Sioux Falls; Nancy (Richard) Carlson, Beresford; Kathryn (Paul) Arneson, Sofia, Bulgaria; and Annette (Ross) Anderstrom, Wenatchee, WA; grandchildren Jennifer (Ryan), Roger, Emily, Amy, Eric (Nikki), Rachel, Grant (Katie), Beth (Victor), Sarah and Peter (Megan); and great grandchildren Erin, Maxim, Kellan, Kiley, Jenna, Jonathan, Eli, Becca, Gabe, Abby, Luke, Lydia, Caleb, Emmett, Josephine and Hannah; sister Dorothy Simonsen, Le Center, MN; brother Mark (Nancy) Johnson, Lansing, MI; sisters-in law Sigrid Johnson, St Paul, MN, and Linda Roos, Worthington, MN; special friend, Henry Hannemann; and a host of extended relatives and friends.  In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Keith Johnson; brothers in law Franklin Roos, Alden Roos, Robert Roos, and Carl Simonsen; and sister in law Lavena Roos.  She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Avera Hospice program, who tenderly cared for Mom since January, beginning at home for seven months and continuing at Bethesda of Beresford, who provided care and compassion the final two months of her life.