Sharon Amell, 69, of Ravinia

Funeral services are 10:30 AM, Friday, December 21, 2012 at the Wagner Community Church in Wagner. Burial is in Lakeview Cemetery, Lake Andes. Visitation will be at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner with the family present from 5 until 7 PM on Thursday.

After a battle with cancer, Sharon Marie Amell went home to her Savior on December 17, 2012.

Sharon Marie (Nielsen) Amell was born to Hans Dennis and Lorraine Nielsen on April 5, 1943 in Manhattan, Kansas. When her father was deployed to serve overseas, her mother, Lorraine, returned to South Dakota, where Sharon was raised. In high school she attended Wagner High School for three years. Her senior year she attended Sunshine Bible Academy, graduating in 1961. The next two years she attended Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Owatonna, Minnesota, where she met her husband, Charles Jerold Amell.

Sharon and Charles were married on June 7, 1963 in Streator, Illinois. From that day forward Sharon dedicated her life to serving the Lord wherever Charles was called. They served together in Toulon, Illinois (1967 -1971); Spring Valley, Minnesota (1971 -1979); Grand Junction, Colorado (1979 -1988) and Lake Andes, South Dakota (1989-2012). Over the years she served as Sunday School teacher, soloist, piano player and faithfully served in the congregation. At the time of her death she was a member of Lake Andes Baptist Church, Lake Andes, South Dakota. It was her desire to see Native Americans reached for Christ.

Along with being a stay at home mom for many years, she worked as a kindergarten aide for Mesa County Valley School District, Grand Junction, Colorado; Title V tutor of Andes Central School District, Lake Andes, South Dakota; and Early Childhood Aide at the South Central Cooperative, Marty, South Dakota. In her free time she enjoyed painting landscapes, gardening, music, cooking, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Those who spent time with her will remember her for her sense of humor, hospitality, and love for her family and friends.

Thankful for having shared her life are her husband, Charles, Ravinia, SD; three children: Catherine Joy married to George Schulz (Lauren and Ben), Lake Mills, Wisconsin; Charles Jerold II married to Jennifer (Tekla and Theia), Durango, Colorado; Christine Jessica married to Matthew Mahan (Jessica and Kara) Colorado Springs, Colorado; six grandchildren; one brother, Dennis Ray Nielsen (Bonnie), Pickstown, South Dakota; one sister, Patricia Ann Tabor (Sherman), Yankton, South Dakota; nephews, a niece, an uncle, aunts and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents.