Rose died Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the Yankton Care Center. Funeral services are 10:30 AM, Monday, June 14, 2010 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Avon. Burial is in the church cemetery, rural Avon. Visitation will be at the church on Sunday from 3 Pm until 7 PM, followed by a 7 PM Prayer service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon is in charge of arrangements.


Rose Vilhauer, daughter of Cornelius and Martha (DeLong) Lukkes, was born January 16, 1925 on a farm southeast of Avon, SD. She died Thursday, June 10, 2010 at the Yankton Care Center in Yankton, SD. Rose attained the age of 85 years, four months and 26 days.

Rose attended country school through the eighth grade.

Rose was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church in Avon on October 13, 1949. She married Marlin Vilhauer on October 21, 1949 at Zion Lutheran Church in Avon. Five children were blessed to their union. After their marriage, Marlin and Rose moved onto the family farm where they farmed and did dairy for 49 years. They retired in 1998, bought a home and moved into Avon.

Prior to and after her marriage, Rose took care of her ill mother. She was a hard working farm wife and homemaker and a loving mother.

Rose was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Ladies Altar Guild. She also was a member of American Legion Auxiliary. She will be remembered for her enjoyment of playing card games and her love of crocheting and sewing.

Thankful for having shared her life are her husband Marlin of Avon; her children: Elaine and husband Jim Johnson of Dallas, TX; Loren of Pierre; Clayton and wife Jean of Ft. Collins, CO and their children Dawn, Jared, Jason and Jeremy; Glen and wife Brenda of Mitchell and their children Stacy Haiar and husband Josh, Brian and wife Megan, and Brent; and Charlene and husband Kevin Tjeerdsma of Avon and their son Tyler and wife Jenny; one great grandchild, Zayden Tjeerdsma; brother Jim and wife, Carol of Avon; sister-in-law Leola Lukkes of Tyndall; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters and their husbands: Elizabeth and William "Willie" Burma, Regina "Kathryn" and John Albert Ludens, and Martha and Edward "Buster" Babcock; and four brothers and their wives: an infant brother John in Germany, William and wife Henrietta, John and wife DeLores, and Cornelius, Jr.