Irene Rysavy, 95, of Spearfish, formerly of Wagner and Tyndall, SD, died August 25, 2016 at the Belle Fourche Health Care Facility where she lived for the past year.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at St. John's Catholic Church in Wagner. Immediately following the services, lunch will be served at the church with interment to follow in St. Leo's Catholic Cemetery in Tyndall. Visitation will be from 3 - 5PM Monday at Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home, Wagner with a Rosary at 7 PM at the church.

Irene was born to Edward and Katherine (Rada) Rysavy on October 3, 1920 in Winner, where she lived until she was 13 years old. She then moved with her parents to a farm south of Colome. In 1934, she moved with her parents 12 miles south of Wagner.  In 1935 she graduated the eighth grade from Ree Township School. Irene attended High School in Lake Andes and NYA School in White Lake. After school Irene worked at home and also worked as a housekeeper and nanny for various employers in Omaha, NE. Later, as her mother needed care, Irene moved back home and cared for her parents, until their passing. In 1949, her parents and Roy, her youngest brother, purchased a farm near Tyndall, where they lived until 1985. Irene and Roy then sold the farm and retired. Irene and Roy then moved 12 miles south of Wagner to help their sister Marie with the farm as Marie's husband, Wesley was unable to farm. After Wesley's passing, Irene, Roy and Marie purchased a home in Wagner. She lived in Wagner until 2008 when she moved along with Marie to Spearfish to live with her niece, Marjorie & Jeff Flesner.

Irene enjoyed gardening, canning, growing beautiful flowers, baking and fishing. She also enjoyed many bus trips around the states, including Alaska. She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church and a member of the St. John's Altar Society. Irene will be remembered especially for her loving care of many family members.

Thankful for having shared her life are her sister Marie's children: David Thornton (deceased), James Thornton of Wagner, Carol Thornton of Peidmont and Marge Flesner of Spearfish, and their children. Irene is survived by and will be remembered and greatly missed by several nieces and nephews, great nieces/nephews, and great-great nieces/nephews.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Edward, John, Leo (Elsie), Joseph (Dorothy), Roy, and sister Marie (Wesley) Thornton.