Shirley Magnuson

Our loving mother, grandmother and sister passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2016 in Sioux Falls. Shirley was born March 22, 1928 to Arthur and Frances (Beyer) Hefner at Chester, SD. She was a 1946 graduate of Chester High School and earned a two year business degree at General Beadle State College at Madison, SD. Shirley worked as an assistant to the Registrar at the college until November of 1952 when she moved to Sioux Falls and worked as a secretary to the cashier at Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York until 1960. She married Robert Magnuson on June 20, 1959 at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester, SD. He passed away February 22, 1984 and Shirley continued handling his airmail contract with the US Postal Service until she retired July 31, 1990. She was active with many organizations, serving on the PTA Executive Boards at Emerson and Garfield Schools; a Brownie and Girl Scout Leader; member of St. John Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, served on the WELCA Board, Altar Guild and was a dedicated choir member. Shirley was a lifetime member of the Sioux Valley Hospital Auxiliary and co-chair of the sewing group for the neonatal and pediatrics wards; held several offices on the McCrossan Boys Ranch Auxiliary; member of the VFW Auxiliary and Union Gospel Mission Auxiliary. Shirley enjoyed traveling and took trips to Israel, Germany, France and Hawaii. She is survived by two daughters, Carla Magnuson of Minneapolis and Roberta (Bobbie) Magnuson of Ventura, CA; a brother, Merlin Hefner of Chester, SD; a grandson, Samuel Dennis of Ventura, CA. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant son, Jeffrey; a brother, Dalton Hefner; and half-sister, Lucille Slack.