Memorial services for Rose Baird, 90, of Mobridge will be Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 2:00 pm at the Kesling Funeral Home with Pastor Matthew Miller officiating. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. Rose passed away April 3, 2010 at the Golden Living Center in Mobridge.


Rose was born April 19, 1919 on a farm southeast of Glenham, SD to Chris and Margaret (Dieg) Merkel. She attended the Grant School south of Glenham until the 6th grade, and then went to the Glenham School until the 8th grade. For her high school years she attended the Plainview Academy in Redfield where she graduated in 1937.



She married Harold Baird on March 8, 1945 in Mobridge. Harold was in the service of his country at the time, and served overseas with General Patton's Army. When he returned they lived in Mobridge and had an Auto repair shop. Rose was a "helper" in the shop.



Rose loved to bowl and had bowled with the same team for 15 years and received recognition for her achievements. She also worked as a waitress and a "snappy" one she was! Rose enjoyed growing flowers, and pressing and framing many of them. She would always give away her 1st tomatoes each year. She also crocheted and knitted many beautiful afghans for her family, neighbors, and friends. I had the privilege of being her best friend (Ruth Truax), she often introduced me as her sister! She was the last survivor of her immediate family.



She is survived by sisters-in-law, Evylen Merkel of Oak Harbor, WA and Betty Merkel of Olympia, WA. and many nephews and nieces all living far away.



She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold in 1990, three brothers Edward, Reinhold and Rueben, step sisters, Christine and Dorothy, step-brothers Phillip and Louis Merkel.