Rose Marie Scott

Rose Marie (Best) Scott was born Aug. 18, 1929, in Rapid City, S.D., to Albert and Rose (Cvach) Best. She completed the family, joining her brother Charles on a ranch located in the countryside of Martin, S.D. The family moved to Custer, S.D., in 1935.
Rose Marie attended Custer Elementary and graduated from Custer High School in 1947. She continued her education at Green’s School of Beauty and graduated at the top of her class. On Feb. 26, 1950, Rose Marie married the love of her life and husband of nearly 60 years Samuel Scott in Custer. This union was blessed with five children, Adele, David, Douglas, Allen and Susan.
Rose Marie and Sam operated the family business, Scott’s Rock Shop, from 1965 until they retired in 2006. During this time, they also operated Scott’s LP Gas and opened a small café in the rock shop as well. In 1963, Rose Marie, Sam and their family traveled to the state capitol in Pierre to lobby to endorse Rose Quartz as the state mineral and were successful.
For many years Rose Marie and Sam were very active members of Custer Community Church. Rose Marie taught Sunday school and served on various boards. Later in life Rose Marie and Sam became members of Custer Lutheran Fellowship. Rose Marie and Sam had a strong faith and made sure that faith was instilled in their children and grandchildren.
Rose Marie always made sure to support her children and grandchildren, following their activities whether it be music, drama, or various sports. She often volunteered to drive her children and any others that needed a ride to those activities for out of town or in town events. Rose loved many varieties of music and made sure that her children had piano lessons and were all in band.
Rose Marie will be remembered for her love of baking and being “the cookie lady” to many. She always welcomed everyone with open arms and had a sweet treat to share at her table, and often sent treats with her guests to take home. Rose had a kind, warm, loving spirit to anyone she met, even if she didn’t know them.
Rose Marie enjoyed traveling her entire life, beginning with a train trip in 1933 to the World’s Fair in Chicago, Ill., with her mother and brother. It was a fond memory for her. Rose Marie and Sam spent many years traveling to Quartzite and Tucson, Ariz., for buying trips for the rock shop at the gem and mineral shows held there. She especially enjoyed visiting their children, from Georgia to Washington and everywhere in between. She preferred air travel over camping any time!
Rose Marie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was incredibly proud of her children, 13 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren and loved to brag about them all every chance she got.
Rose Marie passed away on the morning of Oct. 22, 2024, at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, S.D.  She was 95.
Rose Marie was preceded to Heaven by husband, Samuel; parents, Albert and Rose; brother, Charles and his wife Carol; and sons in law, Dan Painter and Gary Woodford.
Rose will be missed by her children, Adele Painter, David (Diane) Scott, Douglas (Penny) Scott, Allen (Kristi) Scott and Susan Woodford; along with her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren; lifelong friends Alice and Mary Hagenlock; and her many relatives and friends.
Services will be held at the Custer Lutheran Fellowship, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. Luncheon will follow at the church after interment at the Custer Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Rose Marie asked that donations be made to the Custer Ambulance Service or Custer Lutheran Fellowship.
Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Custer.