Roxie Ann Bracewell was born to Kenneth and Rozella Bracewell on September 7, 1945, in Sturgis, SD, in a house that later turned into a hospital. She lived on the Vale family farm with her sister, Candace “Candy,” attended Cottonwood and Riggs Rural Schools through elementary, and graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1963.
Soon after, the love of her life, Dennis Wayne Chowen, swept her off her feet and across the globe. They married on June 13, 1965, and started their family in an energy efficient home they built together on a farm outside of Newell, SD. They had three children: DeLayne Wayne, Dana Wade, and DeeKenna Ann, and lived a self-sustaining lifestyle in the country. Roxie graduated from Black Hills State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Composite Music and walked across the commencement stage carrying her eldest son, then 1-year-old DeLayne, wearing a matching mortarboard. After graduation, she used her education and talents to teach music for several years in Sturgis Public Schools. Music was always her pride and joy. Roxie and Candy even performed with Lawrence Welk in California in 1972.
In 1981, Roxie and Dennis accepted an Active Duty Army tour and were assigned to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. While there, Roxie exemplified the characteristics of an Officer’s wife by playing and singing for special events and dignitaries, including Secretary of Denfense Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, and several other U.S. Senators and Representatives. That Easter, Roxie and her family were invited to roll eggs with President Ronald Reagan on the White House lawn.
With every new duty station came new opportunities to share her love of music as neighborhood children saw her grand piano and other instruments move into their new living quarters. Roxie’s calendar was immediately full of music lessons, singing, directing, and playing organ and piano. When she went to chapel on her new Army post, she always had a job, even if the Catholic Priest had to remind her, “No Lutheran notes, now, Ms. Roxie!” She was a lifetime member of the Piano Guild and Music Teachers’ Association.
From 1989-1991, Roxie instructed the highest class of gentlemen in the Republic of Korea at Youngsan. With the utmost discretion, a private driver would pick her up each morning and deliver her safely to the private college where she taught Conversational English. Before Roxie and Dennis left Korea, he bought her a white grand piano which still resides in her lodge outside of Sturgis, SD.
Music was Roxie’s life and she shared her passion with others as a teacher, mentor, director, and accompanist. She played at many nursing homes, assisted living centers, student music contests, weddings, funerals, and other social events throughout the Northern Hills. She was also director and teacher at the Center for the Arts in Sturgis and Lead.
Roxie suddenly lost the angelic voice she loved to share and used to inspire so many in July 2016. After a year of testing locally, as well as with the Mayo Clinic, she was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in June 2017. Roxie and Dennis left no stone unturned in looking for answers and faced every battle with courage and grace. Over the course of just one year, they visited several Medical Doctors, Doctors of Naturopathy, and Homeopathic Healers whose treatments included a feeding tube, advising of organic diets, prescribing natural oils, and mercury and heavy metal detoxing. Her grace and strength in handling this last challenge was inspiration for many. Grace and strength which came from her Lord Jesus Christ.
Roxie, 73, Sturgis, passed away peacefully at the Lippold Hospice Suite at Sturgis Regional Hospital surrounded by family on Thursday, October 11, 2018.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Dennis Chowen; their three children, DeLayne (Beth), Dana, and DeeKenna (Jeremy) Rohde; sister, Candy (Brian) McKay; brother-in-law, Earl Remington; sisters-in-law, Bonnie (Geoff) Ryerson and Patti Hill; aunt, Shirly Jenks, and aunt, June Beckham; 7 grandchildren, Dani and Demi Chowen, Conrad, Fulton, and Wade Chowen, and Isla and Holland Rohde; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Rozella Bracewell; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bernice and Charles Grant; and sister-in-law, Linda Remington.
We are forever grateful to the hospital staff and especially Dr. Tom Hermann for their compassionate and loving care of Roxie. Thank you.