Murle Rose (Troske) Breen, 96, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2016.

Murle was born April 9, 1920, the second of 10 children, to Frank and Lucy Troske in Chokio, MN, and grew up in Turton, SD. After graduating from high school in 1937, Murle moved to Aberdeen where she planned to attend business college. Her plans changed the day she arrived when she met the love of her life Robert "Bob" Breen. They were married on June 17, 1939, in Aberdeen and spent the subsequent 77 years together.

Murle grew up on a farm during the depression, sharing cooking, cleaning, and childcare duties, which instilled in her a strong work ethic, deep commitment to family and delightful sense of humor. She was a wonderful homemaker and mother who invested her time raising five children, Karen, James, Cheryl, Rebecca and Patrick. She volunteered for the Red Cross as a Gray Lady, providing non-medical support in hospitals during and after the World War II.

She loved to cook and was happiest in the kitchen where she prepared the delicious food and desserts she would be known for throughout her life. She was creative and challenged herself to seek out new outlets to grow as an artist and hobbyist such as painting, sewing, decoupage, knitting and crochet.

Murle was joyful, gracious and filled with gratitude, quick with a smile and a kiss. Her friends and family remember that she was always eager to grab hold of life with both hands and livened up any room she was in. Always the life of the party, Murle enjoyed entertaining friends and family, playing bridge, attending family reunions, dancing at the Elks and golf.

When her children were grown, Murle focused some of her energy on working outside of the home and volunteering in her community. Her generous and gregarious nature made it easy for her to be of service through the Chamber of Commerce in the Welcome Wagon program and as a convention greeter. Later both Murle and Bob volunteered at Mount Rushmore, shuttling people unable to make the long trek to and from the monument in golf carts.

After 45 years with the telephone company Bob retired and they hit the road in their motorhome, visiting every state and wintering annually in Arizona. They also enjoyed travel abroad, collecting memories in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Luxembourg, and Italy, to include a momentous sojourn to the Vatican.

Throughout her life – waking/sleeping, laughing/crying, in sickness and in health, whether dancing or gardening or driving long distances to meet a new grandchild – Murle was rarely seen without her Sweetheart, Bob. In later years, when illness had stolen so many of her precious memories, she would seek him out in a room, smile and with deep affection declare her love for him.

Her family and friends will miss her but take comfort in knowing that another lovely voice has been added to the choir of angels in heaven.

Murle is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob); children Karen (Breen) and Rudy Dzubnar; James (Jim) and Janet (Jan) Breen; Cheryl (Cherry Breen) and Phillip (Phil) Springfield; Rebecca (Becky Breen) and Michael (Mike) Papesh; and Patrick Breen and Pepper Massey; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Murle was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings Eleanor (Troske) Lien; Irvin Troske; Irene (Troske) Zipf; and Annabelle (Troske) Vogel.

Visitation will be from 2-4pm on Thursday, September 8, at Osheim Schmidt Funeral Home.

Services will be at 9am on Friday, September 9, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Internment will follow at Silver City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, and to honor Murle's love of the arts, donations may be made to the Rapid City Arts Council/Dahl Arts Center.