Virginia "Jean" Oster

Virginia “Jean” Oster, 86, Bowdle, died Thursday, May 18, 2023 at the Avera Oahe Manor, Gettysburg.

Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 22, 2023 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Bowdle, with Father Darin Schmidt, Celebrant. Interment followed at St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery, Bowdle.

Virginia Marie Pfaff, daughter of Mary (Mueller) and Joseph Pfaff, was born at St. Genevieve, Mo. on March 23, 1937. She received her formal education at Zell Parochial School near St. Genevieve. She was then employed at a shirt factory in St. Genevieve. Jean, as she was commonly known, married Dale Oster on August 20, 1955 at St. Genevieve. They first settled in Rapid City and relocated to Ipswich in 1963. In 1976 they moved to Aberdeen where they had purchased the Breeze-Inn Motel. They owned and operated the motel until they sold it in 1995. In addition to helping with the day-to-day operations of the motel, Jean also was employed in the dietary department of the Bethesda Home in Aberdeen for 12 years. In 2007, she retired from Bethesda and she and Dale moved to Watertown. Since 2009, they have lived in Bowdle. Jean was a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Bowdle.

She loved growing flowers and kept a nice rose garden. She also enjoyed baking for her family.

Jean is survived by her children, Todd (Sandy) Oster of Gettysburg, Joyce (Kevin) Harnisch of Big Stone City, Scott (Brenda) Oster of Custer, Jill (Steve) Schweitzer of Watertown, and Chad (Kelly) Oster of Chippewa Falls, WI; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, on October 24, 2022; her parents, Joseph and Mary; one brother, Louis Pfaff; and three sisters, Duella Grass, Joann Davis, and Dolores Roth.

Lector was Norbert Thomas; Offertory gift bearers were Jason and Heather Grommesch. The Pianist was Margy Bobby and Mass Server was Isaiah Heilman.

Honorary bearers were granddaughters, Jess Sackmann, Heather Grommesch, Jaime Schweitzer, Abby Oster, and Izzy Oster.

Casketbearers were grandsons, Justin Oster of Gettysburg, Tyler Harnisch of Odessa, Minn., Hunter Harnisch of Delano, Minn., Nick Oster of Watertown, Chris Oster of Newcastle, Wyo., and Adam Schweitzer of Sioux Falls.

Services are in care of Lien Funeral Home, Bowdle. http://www.MillerLienFH.com