Doland: Shirley Anderson, 81, of Doland, S.D., died Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.

Her memorial service will be Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield, thelenfuneralhome.com. The Rev. Peter M. Utecht will officiate.

Burial of her ashes will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen at a later date.


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Shirley Anderson was born March 17, 1930, on a farm near Redfield (Clifton Township) to Albert C. and Bonnie M. (Stucker) Spear. She attended and graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1948. She married Otis Dale Anderson on Nov. 20, 1949, at Redfield. They farmed northwest of Doland until 1974, when Dale died.

Shirley moved into Doland and worked as a house cleaner and caregiver for George Albrecht. She worked in the meat processing plant in Doland until it closed. She also did contract house cleaning jobs for various residents of Doland. She loved her communities and her family.

She enjoyed knitting and reading.

Shirley was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Doland.

She is survived by her four children: Reed (Debra) Anderson of Reno, Nev.; Tim Anderson of Palm Springs, Calif.; Ron (Geri) Anderson of Aberdeen, S.D.; and Todd Anderson of Aberdeen, S.D. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and her brother, Rob (Karon) Spear, of Redfield; her sisters: Maxine Norlin of Sioux Falls, S.D., Bonnie Lou (Ken) Burtch of Sulfur Springs, Texas, Judy (Merlin) Newman of Omaha, Neb., and Sue (Charlie) Esser of Redfield.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale, in 1974; her daughter, Tammy Haber; and an infant son and three brothers and a sister.