Rose Elizabeth (Petriella) DeFea of Pierre, SD age 94, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Tuesday, October 3, 2017. Rose was born on September 10, 1923, the fourth of nine children born to Gennaro and Carmela (Bibbo) Petriella.
Rose grew up in Elkhart, Indiana. While her father was a blacksmith for the railroad, her mother and her siblings planted, picked, and peddled vegetables from their nine-lot garden. During WWII, Rose worked for Bendix Corporation of Chicago, a company that made parts for airplanes, as many women did at that time, filling the vacancies by men off to war.
Rose attended a University of Notre Dame dance where she met Navy Veteran and the love of her life, Michael (Jack) P. DeFea. They married on August 27, 1949. Upon Jack’s graduation from Notre Dame, they moved to Milbank, SD where they helped operate the family owned DeFea Theater and Drive-Inn. They were blessed with a son, Michael A. in 1958 and a daughter, Lisa in 1959. Rose helped at the theater and drive-in, but her primary purpose in life was her two children. Jack was also an insurance agent during this time with American Family Insurance. Due to a promotion to District Manager, the family moved to Rapid City, SD in 1966.
Rose, being the first generation born in America from Italian parents, loved to cook Italian food and always had a pot of something delicious simmering on her stove. She was notoriously famous with family and friends for her lasagna and her spaghetti sauce which was quite a process to make. Rose and Jack took several trips to Italy to visit her family still in the country. Her feisty Italian personality stayed with her until the end. They loved Notre Dame Football games, attending one per year until they were no longer able to attend. In 2005 Jack and Rose moved to Pierre, SD to be closer to their children. Rose loved her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.
Rose is survived by her son Michael A. DeFea of Ft Pierre, daughter Lisa (Lyle) Magorien of Pierre, granddaughters: Danielle (Luke) Kaiser of Sioux Falls, Shelby Magorien of Pierre & Kara (Eric) Duven of Aberdeen. Four great grandchildren: Payton Magorien, Kellen & Piper Rose Kaiser, Ramsey & Connor Duven, two sisters, Edith Hoffman of Houston, Texas and Francis Osowski of Elkhart, Indiana. Rose was preceded in death by her husband Jack, in 2009, her parents; brothers: Anthony, Joseph and George; and sisters: Mary, Theresa and Jane.