Rose Ann Handley passed away on March 30, 2026, at Avera Hospice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Rose was born on June 4, 1953, in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Clifford and Frieda Anne (Gaertner) Handley. She was the beloved granddaughter of Virgil and Almeda (Broderson) Handley, and Sebastian and Josephine (Huebsch) Gaertner.

Born with Cerebral Palsy, Rose never let it stand in her way. She embraced life fully and loved to participate in everything around her. She found joy in helping with daily tasks like cooking, drying dishes, putting them away, and doing laundry. Keeping things neat and tidy was important to her.

Rose has a lively spirit and enjoyed swimming, dancing, and going on outings. She loved staying busy with puzzles, coloring, Etch A Sketch, and playing card games like Old Maid and Go Fish. Music brought her great happiness, especially country western, along with favorites like “Monster Mash,” “On Top of Old Smokey,” and “She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain.” She took pride in her appearance and loved wearing her sunglasses, jewelry, and stylish outfits.

Rose had a generous heart. She was passionate about collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House and enjoyed participating in Special Olympics bowling. Her faith was also an important part of life, and she loved attending church.

Rosie had a nurturing nature and would have made a wonderful mother. She was always ready with a warm hug when someone needed comfort, but she also knew how to give “the look” and shake her finger when something wasn’t right. She was expressive, loving, and full of personality.

Family meant everything to Rose. She is survived by her sisters Jackie Duvernay of Pasadena, Texas; Becky (Kelly) Handley of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; Virginia (William) Paquette of Rapid City, South Dakota; Gwen Dooley of Rapid City, South Dakota; her brother Timothy Handley of Rapid City, South Dakota. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Brenda (Richard) Sadler; Junior (Linda) Duvernay; Jennifer (Tim) Chauvin; William Paquette; and Miranda (Brad) Madsen; as well as many beloved grandnieces and grandnephews: Kyle and Katrina Sadler; Jessica Pruneda; Allen and Tori Turnbull; Ashley Bailey; Chelsea Paquette; Mady, Korbin, Allie, and Van Madsen; and Ethan Huntley; Trevor Brennan.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Frieda Handley; her grandparents, Virgil and Almeda Handley and Sebastian and Josephine Gaertner; her niece, Mariah Handley; and her brothers-in-law, James Duvernay and Patrick Dooley.

Rose will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her love for others, and the warmth she brought into every life she touched.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics in Rose’s honor.