02/15/2010 - Duane (Ted) Rosane

           Duane “Ted” Waldon Rosane, 81, of Martin South Dakota, passed away Wednesday evening February 10th at his home.

            Ted was born December 26, 1928 in Martin to Albert and Leona Rosane. Born above the Buckhorn Bar, where Dr. Walton delivered him and his twin, brother Wayne. As a young boy, Tod and his family lived in Allen, Cody, Nebraska, and then Martin. One of six children, Tod had an older sister, two older brothers, his twin brother and a younger sister. Tod graduated from the eighth grade in Martin and was soon out on his own. He worked around the Martin area for his Uncle Neil Moffitt and farmed with the Geersen brothers. Tod also worked other odd jobs in the area.

            On September 15, 1949, he married Nadene Audiss in Deadwood South Dakota. They made their home in Vetal for a short time and then in Martin where they have lived for the last sixty years. For many years Tod hauled freight from Merriman, Nebraska in the day time and worked for the Port of Entry in the evening, but he is best known for establishing and operating Rosane Cement Products, for more than fifty years. The business of which his son Kenny now operates.

            Also, over the years he designed and built several homes which he and his family occupied and eventually sold. The last of these being the home they have lived in for the last thirty years. (Much to his wife’s relief, a house that was actually completed before they moved in.)

            In his later years he acquired several rental properties with many of these in such states of disrepair that most people would have torn down; but with his visions, skills, and tenacity, he created out of these affordable housing for many people.

            He was a self taught man with many skills. A man with a big heart, he was always the first one to step up with a helping hand to those in need. He took great pride in all he had accomplished on only an eight grade education.

            One of his greatest joys in life was his music, which was also self-taught. He had a musical gift to play by ear, if you could hum it, he could play it. We had yet to find the instrument he could not play. As a young man he played in a family band for local dances. In his later years he entertained his friends and family as a “one man band.”

No one was a stranger to him, he could talk to someone he just met for hours. Even though some viewed him as a stern sometimes stubborn man, he always had a joke or a funny story ready to tell. Under the gruff exterior, was a heart of gold.

            He was a collector of many things, mostly used items from the second hand store, latest auction, or the clearance table at the True Value.

            Survivors include his wife, Nadene, Martin, sons Dennis (Cathy) Rosane of Custer, Kenny (Becki) Rosane of Martin, daughters Ronda Rosane of Martin, Kathleen Rosane-Gunnare of Piedmont, Colleen (Dave) Banham of Rapid City. Eleven grandchildren and three great grandsons.

            He was preceded in death by his mother and father, three brothers, one sister, and a son-in-law.

            A memorial prayer service will be held at 7:00 pm Sunday, February 14, 2010 at St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church in Martin.

            Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday, February 15, 2010 at St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church in Martin.The family will make a memorial donation to the Weber Family Practice Medical Relief Fund and to St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church, both of Martin.