Dorothy “Pud” M. Gosmire, 84, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2015, surrounded by family at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls. A graveside prayer service will be held for the family on Saturday, May 16th, at Riverview Cemetery north of Dell Rapids, SD.  Condolences may be left at www.kahlerfh.com

Dorothy Marilyn (Oleson) Gosmire, the daughter of Calvin and Irene (Bishop) Oleson, was born on October 9, 1930, in Richmond Heights, MO. She graduated from Brookings (SD) High School in 1948, and in 1951 earned an Associate’s Degree (Home Ec Department) from South Dakota State University where she met her future husband, Edgar D. Gosmire. Pud and Ed were married in Brookings in 1951, where Ed began his long career with State Farm Insurance. This career eventually took them from Brookings to Hopkins, MN, then to Huron, SD, and finally to Algona, IA. Pud was first and foremost a wonderful homemaker for her husband and 6 children, but she also enjoyed gardening, reading, and baking, and was active in the Presbyterian Church. Her prolific crocheting eventually became her favorite hobby.

Following the death of her husband, Pud retired to Sun City West, AZ, in 1991, where she volunteered at the local library and took up a new hobby: leather-crafting. She became an active member (and officer) of the local Leather Carver’s Club, creating beautiful leather pictures, belts, wallets, and other items for family and friends.

In 2011 Pud returned to South Dakota to be closer to family as she battled COPD/Emphysema. During her stay at Dow Rummel Village, she volunteered weekly at Dow Rummel’s library and continued her crocheting hobby in the Hooks and Needles Club. Pud’s humor and sharp wit was infectious, and the caring and devoted staff at Dow Rummel (supplemented later by AseraCare Hospice) became like a second family for her, helping to brighten each and every day.

Pud’s friends and family will always remember her competitive spirit and love for games. They will also remember her love of all things sweet, whether it was a fresh Krispy Kreme Doughnut, a batch of brownies, a handful of Sour Patch Kids, or a chocolate cordial cherry.

Pud was preceded in death by her parents and husband. 

She is survived by her sister Lois Nelson (Hills, MN), her brother Robert (Bonnie) Oleson (Waconia, MN); her children Terry Gosmire (Omaha, NE), Ron Gosmire (Faribault, MN), Nancy (Dan) Anderson (Dell Rapids, SD), Steve Gosmire (Algona, IA), David (Susan) Gosmire (Wood Lake, MN), and Michael Gosmire (Sioux Falls, SD); grandchildren Reid (Maeghen) Gosmire (Hanson, MA), Kelsie Gosmire (Excelsior, MN), Sara (Matthew) Brinkman (Tea, SD), Bethany (Gabe) Gassman (Yellowstone National Park, WY), Laura (Ronald) Analuisa-Estevez (Austin, TX), Amanda (Joel) Friedrich, Bobby (Jenna) Shipler, and Suzie (Steve) Pedersen (all of Algona, IA), and Adam, Bradley, Nicole, Kierra, and Lindsey Gosmire (Wood Lake, MN); great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and great-nieces/nephews.