Dwight Marse Roesch was born on December 14, 1931 in Onaka, SD (Faulk County) to John and Magdalena (Heiser) Roesch. He was baptized on May 1, 1932 in Tolstoy, SD. While residing at the JMHS- Care Center, he peacefully passed away on October 26, 2017.
He is lovingly remembered by his family as a devoted father, grandfather and husband, a proud Veteran, avid sports fan and gifted salesman. He loved meeting and getting to know people. During his lifetime he traveled to all 50 states and several foreign countries. While growing up his family lived in Tolstoy, SD and later moved to Watertown, SD where Dwight graduated from high school. As a left-handed pitcher, he was recruited out of High School by the professional baseball team, the St. Louis Browns. It was during this time in his life that he enlisted in the United States Air Force, faithfully serving his country for more than 20 years. His love of sports led him to coach teams his children played on.
Following a tour of duty in Korea, he was introduced to the love of his life, Alta Janet (Holte) on a blind date. She was just finishing nursing school at the time. They were married on June 8, 1954 in Webster, SD. Dwight and Alta had 59 years together and five children, Kathleen (Jim) Miranowski; Dwain Roesch; Janet (Jeff) Liebl; Kristin (Dale) Kruger and Jon (Julie) Roesch. When he retired from the Air Force, Dwight and Alta moved to Dawson, MN to be near family while raising their own young family. While living in Dawson, he started his second career working in sales positions. Dwight was a Mason and a Shriner and belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion. After retirement from sales he and Alta moved to Watertown, SD and then to Montevideo, MN. Following Alta’s passing in 2013, chronic health concerns led Dwight to return to Dawson in 2015 to again be nearer to family.
Dwight is survived by four of his children, Kathe, Janet, Kris and Jon; his brother, Jerauld (Elaine) Roesch; nine grandchildren: Eric (Melissa) Bothun, Scott (Tasha) Bothun, Joshua Liebl, Jessica (Nathan) Martinson, Janiel Liebl, Hannah Kruger, Peyton Roesch, Grace Roesch, and Leah Roesch; eleven great-grandchildren: Hayley Bothun, Brooklyn Bothun, Nicklaus Bothun, Annika Bothun, Gauge Liebl, Gunner Liebl, Hunter Martinson, Mathew Martinson, Paisley Martinson, Isabella Martinson and Reese Ochsendorf; and many dear extended family members including his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ruth and Harold Solem, Alta’s aunt Anna West, and his nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alta, parents, John and Lena, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Roy and Emmeline Holte, sister, Twilamae (Roesch) Johnson, brother-in-law, Leon Johnson, sister-in-law, Lois Roesch, infant son, Dwain and grandson, Sutton.
Dwight requested his life be celebrated with a private family memorial service following the cremation of his body. Any non-designated memorial donations will be used in support of Watertown High School baseball. The family extends their sincere gratitude to all those who visited and kept Dwight in their prayers in these last years.