Sharon A. Odegaard

Sharon Odegaard, age 78, of Lake Preston, SD, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Avantara Care Center in Lake Norden, SD.

A celebration of her life will be held Friday, June 2, 2023, at 2:00 PM, at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church. Pastor Kris Larson will officiate with music provided by Jodi Fuerst as vocalist. Active pallbearers will be Tim Steffensen, Fred Staudy, Doyle Renaas, Patrick Herman, Jarrod Nuss, and Ethan Tolzin with honorary pallbearers being all of Sharon's beloved grandchildren. The service will be livestreamed via the Crawford-Osthus website.

Burial will follow at Lake Preston Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 1, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Lake Preston Lutheran Church.

Sharon Ann (Schaefer) Odegaard was born August 30, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN to Gilbert and Ione Schaefer while Gilbert was serving in the war. Gilbert returned to the states in September of 1945, moving his family back home to Tripp, SD. Sharon was confirmed into the United Church of Christ on March 22, 1959, and graduated from Tripp High School in 1962. Sharon went on to attend Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, where she completed an Accounting Course on February 26, 1965, and where she met the love of her life, Wayne Odegaard. Sharon and Wayne were united in marriage on January 16, 1966, and farmed near Lake Preston.

Together they proudly raised 5 sons until Sharon lost her husband and her son Josh in a tragic farm-related accident in 2004. Sharon remained strong and continued to reach for her faith, family, and friends, moving forward with Odegaard Family Farms until she fully retired from her farm duties in 2016.

Sharon was very active as a 4-H leader for the Fire Flyers 4-H Club for over 30 years and sat on the 4-H Leaders Board for most of those years. She was also a part of the Ladies Legion Auxiliary, Lake Preston UCC/UMC Church Board and Women’s Fellowship, a Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Lake Preston Progressive Young Women as well as the Jaycettes, and she served alongside Wayne for many, many years as a member on the state Pork Producer Trade Show Committee.

Sharon’s biggest joy in her life aside from her own boys was spending time with her grandkids. She enjoyed attending all her grandkids’ events and being part of their lives. It didn’t matter if it was near or far, Sharon would travel, and when the grandkids looked up, there she would be sitting in the stands cheering them on. Family was always one of the most important things to her. She gave the best hugs and loved her black licorice and Coca Cola.

Sharon passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, May 22, 2023. Those of us who are grateful for having shared her life include son Shane, and his children, Ashley (Ethan) Tolzin, Danielle, Callie, Emsley Odegaard; son Jadd, his wife Wendy, and their children Dustin (Paige) and Devin Reuer, and Garret and Chance Odegaard; son Shaun, his wife Kristi, and their children Brandy, Taren (Morgan), and Kiera Odegaard; son Justin, his wife Jenna, and their children Waylin, Daxtin, and Bostin Odegaard, and 5 great- grandchildren as well as her brother, Dennis and his wife Phyllis Schaefer, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and friends.

Sharon was welcomed to Heaven by her husband Wayne, son Josh, parents Gilbert and Ione Schaefer, and her father and mother-in-law, Marvin and Arlo Odegaard.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel                                          www.crawfordosthus.com

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