Shirley M. Weeks, 90, of Spearfish, SD, formerly of Scranton, ND, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at the David M. Dorsett Healthcare Center in Spearfish. Funeral Services for Shirley will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at the Peace Lutheran Church in Scranton. Pastor Mary Peterson will officiate with burial to follow in the Haley Cemetery.
Shirley Crawford was born on December 8, 1922, the daughter of Elmer and Ivy (Cartwright) Crawford in Douglas County, Wisconsin. She attended school in Goldfield and Haley schools. She graduated from Central High School in Superior, Wisconsin in 1940 and from North Central bible School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1943. She then taught school in Eden, Vessey, Haley, and Mud Butte. She married Giles Weeks on June 30, 1948; they were one of only three couples married in St. John's Lutheran Church in Haley. They wintered and honeymooned in Galveston, TX and made their home 3 miles east of Haley alongside the North Grand River, where Shirley loved to teach anyone that came along how to swim in the river. The happiest day of her life was when Burton was born in Hettinger in 1950. She went back to school and received her Standard Certificate in 1958. She then taught at Wilson, Norbeck, Vessey and Haley. She graduated from DSU in 1972 with a B.S. She was also elected County Superintendent from 1972 to 1976. She was a member of the North Dakota Retired Teachers Association and received the Silver Apple Award from 2008-2009 from them. She took trips to the Marshall Island, Mexico and went on a cruise with all the Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren to Mexico. She and Giles lived on the farm until 2004 when they moved to Sunny Apartments in Bowman. Giles passed away in December of 2004 and Shirley continued to live in the apartments until August of 2011 when she moved into the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center and in 2012 she moved to the David M. Dorsett Healthcare Home in Spearfish, SD to be closer to her family. She was active in the Church where she was a longtime member of the ALCW and active in education throughout her life. One of her greatest joys was watching the antics of her Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Ivy Crawford, husband, Giles, sisters, Marge and Marion and brothers, Bill, Elmer and Kenny.
She is survived by her son Burton (Deb) Weeks of Lead, SD, sister, Larie Nelson, grandsons, Kelly (Lisa) Weeks and Yuma (Lylie) Weeks all of Gillette, WY and great grandchildren, Kyenne, Haley, Landon and Falon and also numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Haley Cemetery Fund or the St. John's Lutheran Church.
Krebsbach/Kulseth Funeral Services in charge of the arrangements.