Shirley Harris, age 81

Shirley Harris

Funeral services for Shirley Harris, age 81, of Lemmon, SD, were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the Rosebud Lutheran Church, south of White Butte, SD. Pastor Florence Hoff officiated with burial to follow in the Rosebud Cemetery.


Shirley Ann Longwood was born July 26, 1935 to Walter and Judith Kilness Longwood on the Longwood ranch, Perkins County, SD. In the late 30's, the young family moved to the Murdo area for several years, where Walt worked on the Williams ranch prior to returning in 1943 to the Longwood ranch homesteaded by Shirley's grandparents, William D and Hilma Longwood. Life long friendships were formed during those years near Murdo, and Shirley maintained contact with them through the years.


Shirley attended Johnny Butte School, a one room country school, for elementary school, and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1953. She worked through high school, first for her room and board in private homes and later at the Bank of Lemmon. She married Robert Harris on January 17, 1954, and they had 5 children together. Shirley spent most of her adult life living in Lemmon, SD, and primarily worked at the Bank of Lemmon, Lemmon Drug Store, and Great Plains Lumber and Supply. She spent a year in Denver, CO working for her brother-in-law and sister, Will and Marlene Morton, in their carousel restoration business before returning to SD to care for her mother for 10 years, living on the Longwood ranch in the house in which she was born, until Judie's death in 2006. Shirley then returned to Lemmon, continuing her caregiving for various individuals for several years.


Shirley had an active faith in Jesus as her Savior, was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, enjoyed participating in Bible studies and Rancher’s Camps; and also maintained involvement at Rosebud Lutheran Church, Shadehill, SD, assisting with the annual smorgasbords. She found pleasure in the outdoors, growing flowers and gardening, canning and sharing her produce with others. She especially enjoyed times with her friends and family, and had traveled to NY, MN, CO, AZ, CA, Martha’s Vineyard and FL to visit them. As recently as December, 2016 she went to Denver with Duane and Dawn Harris for a large family gathering for the funeral service of her sister, Marlene.
Due to declining health, Shirley spent the past several years in Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger, ND and Five Counties Nursing Home, Lemmon, SD, until her death on February 19, 2017.


She is survived by three sons, Duane (Dawn) Harris, rural Lemmon, SD, Darin (Tammy) Harris, Lake Havasu City, AZ, and Devin (Richelle) Harris, Pierre, SD; one daughter, Denise Haugen, Bismarck, ND; 11 grandchildren, Willie (Bobby Jo) Harris, Bridget (Albert) Keller, James Harris, Sterling, Blaux and Lexy Harris, Rebecca, Kristina, Zachary, Brooklyn and Daniel Haugen; seven great-grandchildren, Luke and Trinity Harris, Albert, Korbin, Bodee, Teagen and Terek Keller; two brothers, Merle Longwood, Schenectody, NY, (former sister-in-law, Marvine Longwood, Nashville, TN), and Lester (Sharon) Longwood, rural Lemmon, SD; two sisters, Mary (Robert) Jibben, Minneapolis, MN and Carol Martin, Mesa, AZ; one brother-in-law, William Morton VIII, Lakewood, CO; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.


She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Judith Longwood; former husband, Robert Harris; son, Rodney Walter Harris; granddaughter, Amanda Harris; former son-in-law, Austin Haugen; sister, Marlene Morton; sister-in-law, Jean Hynes; brother-in-law, Daryl Martin; and multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law of the Harris family.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by a family service at 7:30 p.m. all at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.


Condolences may be sent through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com

The Pioneer Review

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Philip, SD 57567
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