Lillian Julianne Osvog was born Nov. 25, 1921, to Marius and Petra Lassen on a farm north of Aurora, South Dakota. She died on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Neighborhoods at Brookview Nursing Home, Brookings at the age of 103.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at First Lutheran Church, Brookings, SD. Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD.
Lillian attended grade school in the area and, after Marius bought a 160-acre farm on the west side of Brookings, she attended Brookings High School and graduated in 1939.
Her first job was secretarial work with the Beattie-Steinborn company, a local wholesale grocery business. It was there that she met Homer Osvog, who was employed as an accountant. Homer went into the United States Army in June 1942 and they were married on July 9, 1943, while Homer was on a 10-day leave.
Lillian then accompanied Homer on his odyssey to several U.S. camps where she worked in Army Headquarters Services in Alexandria, LA, and Durham, NC. When Homer was deployed to Europe, Lillian worked at SDSU for the dean of Personnel. After the war, she was a mother and homemaker and occupied several positions as secretary and bookkeeper, most notably for Osvog Implement ,which Homer purchased in 1964.
For many years Lillian and Homer maintained a winter home in Mesa, Arizona, where they enjoyed time with family and friends. It was here that she discovered a love for china painting and developed skill in producing lovely china pieces. They traveled to many countries, in particular the Scandinavian countries since Denmark held a special place in her heart.
Lillian was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Brookings where she held many offices. Singing in choir and with a women’s quartet was a special joy to her. She was a member of several community groups, such as the Belcanto Music Club, South Dakota Art Museum Guild, Hospital Auxiliary and Chapter BP, P.E.O.
Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought joy into her life. She enjoyed good music, books, entertaining her many friends and playing bridge (or any other card game someone might mention).
She is survived by a son, Craig (Candy) of Brookings; a daughter-in-law, Kathy Osvog, of Parker, CO; five grandchildren Christi (Dann) Cecil, Carin, Clark, Jason, and Alysa Osvog; five great-grandchildren Caleb, Aiden, Charis, Hannah, and Elias; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer; her parents; her son, David; and her brother, Walter.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
