Funeral services for Rosemarie Karlen, 100, of Reliance, SD will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 10, 2026 at the Reliance Methodist Hall in Reliance, SD with burial in the Reliance Cemetery at Reliance, SD. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with family present at the Hickey Funeral Chapel in Chamberlain.

Rosemarie Fletcher was born August 15, 1926, in Lyman County on the family farm east of Reliance, SD to Roy O. and Elsie M. (Albert) Fletcher. She attended school at Reliance, SD where she graduated high school. After high school, she attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, where she obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree.

On December 2, 1955, Rosemarie married Merrill Karlen. They were married for 51 years and had eight children; and together they made their home on their ranch north of Reliance until Rosemarie entered Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain, SD in June 2026. She had many hobbies including knitting, crocheting, sewing, gardening, doing genealogy with her family and her sister Carol, playing board games with family, and she was an avid reader.

Rosemarie passed away on October 6, 2026, at Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain at the age of 100 years.

Gratefully sharing her life are her children Merrill Jr. (Karen) Karlen, Laura Karlen, William Roy (Gail) Karlen, Paula (Andrew) Gray, Connie (Diane) Karlen, Julie (Clint) Goodman, Brad (Rita) Karlen, and Warren Karlen; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Merrill; her brothers Don, Roger, Doug and Martin Fletcher; and her sister Carol Anderson.