Shirley Brownlee

Shirley A. (Mrs. Wally) Brownlee, age 81, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2020, at the local hospital. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at St. Martin's Lutheran Church. Rev. Paul Janke will officiate. Music will be provided by Julie Sulzle as organist. The family is requested to meet at the church by 1:30 p.m. for a family prayer service.

Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. and also prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be: Jacob Smith, Bryan Olson, Brad Olson, Zach Kindvall, Danny Rieffenberger, Lucas Kindvall, Taylor Hemiller, Owen Hemiller, Tony Arnold and Ron Lorenzen.

Shirley was born on November 10, 1938, in Elgin, IL, to Elroy and Laura (Dorsett) Fischer. After graduating from Watertown High School, Shirley married Allen Olson and the couple lived in Watertown where they raised their four children. On May 5, 1974, Shirley was united in marriage to Wally Brownlee in Watertown, after he roller-skated into her life. Shirley loved helping out and being needed. Special times were spent with her family. Her greatest pleasure was making holiday meals and having her family around her. Her heart grew with every child, grandchild and great-grandchild. She enjoyed all of the friends and friendships she had made in all of her years in Watertown. She always enjoyed people dropping by for coffee and a visit. When friends and family were unable to come to her she made sure she went to them, whether in their homes or nursing home, and often with a loaf of banana bread. Shirley loved traveling with Wally, going to gun shows and seeing all of the people she had met over the years. Shirley was a lifelong member of St. Martin's Lutheran Church. She worked various jobs in Watertown, especially in the nursing field. Shirley took great pride in keeping her home clean and organized. So, remember Wally, do NOT put anything on top of the fridge.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Wally of Watertown, SD; her children: Tammy Kindvall, Jerry Olson, Kathie (Gary) Rieffenberger and Jill Hemiller, all of Watertown, SD; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jerry (Linda) Fischer of Pierre, SD and Lenny (Cathy) Fischer of Minneapolis, MN; two sisters: Barbara Carston of Watertown, SD and Sandy (Gary) Haider of Mason City, IA; and her sister-in-law, Cheryl Sieverson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, Mandie Rieffenberger; two brothers, Roy and Warren; one sister, Margaret "Peggy"; her brother-in-law, Tom Carston; and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Fischer.

Service Details.

Visitation

When: January 22, 2020 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford - Osthus Funeral Chapel (Watertown)
Address: Crawford - Osthus Funeral Chapel (Watertown)

Service

When: January 23, 2020 2:00pm
Location: St. Martin s Lutheran Church (Watertown)
Address: St. Martin s Lutheran Church (Watertown)

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