Shirley Switzenberg

Shirley Switzenberg was born on July 6, 1931 at Parker, South Dakota, the daughter of Prescot and Johanna (Sweeting) Moter. She graduated from Gary High School and attended cosmetology school in Watertown.

She married Edward Switzenberg on October 5, 1952. Their marriage was blessed with five children. They lived in Watertown and then moved to Athol in 1964. In 1975, they moved to Mellette.  When Shirley was 27 years old, she became blind following an operation and at this time had four children under the age of 6. She took courses at the State School for the Blind to over-come her disability. Shirley was a caregiver and fostered several handicapped adults for over 15 years. Shirley and Ed shared 23 years of marriage before Ed passed away on February 15, 1975.

Shirley’s  life was devoted to her family. She took every opportunity to gather her children and grandchildren around her.

Shirley was 88 years old when she passed away on October 13, 2019 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.

She is survived by her three children, Rick (Teresa Nelson) Switzenberg of Sioux Falls, Sandra (Greg) Young of Hartford and Trace Switzenberg (Jodi Retzlaff) of Renner; 14 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; a sister, Gloria (Donald) Stangland of St. Paul, MN; a brother, Cliff (Jan) Moter of Montrose, CO and sister-in-law, Judy (Marvin) Moter.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edward ; a son, Clark and a daughter, Scarlet (John) Evans; a granddaughter, Jolene; and two brothers, Gene and Marvin.