Shirley Jelsma, 83, of Springfield

Funeral services are 1:30 PM, Friday, February 7, 2014 at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield. Burial is in the church cemetery, rural Springfield. Visitation will be at the church on Thursday from 5 to 7 PM, followed by a 7 PM Prayer Service.

Shirley Lucile Jelsma, the third child of Jess and Johanna (Odens) Tjeerdsma, was born October 18, 1930, on a farm northwest of Springfield. She died February 3, 2014 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. She attained the age of 83 years, 3 months and 16 days.

Shirley attended Kingsburg, Hitt and Drake Country schools. She also attended Springfield High and graduated from Avon High School in 1948. She attended the summer session at Southern State Teacher's College and earned a two year teaching certificate. Shirley taught at the Rouse South Country School in southern Charles Mix County for one year.

Shirley married Donald Jelsma on June 8, 1949 at the Emmanuel Reformed Church parsonage, rural Springfield, by the Rev. John W. Hoksbergen. Together they farmed for 47.5 years on a farm west of Springfield. 12 children were born to their union.

Shirley made confession of faith in the Lord as her Savior on April 10, 1949 at Emmanuel Reformed Church. She was an active member there all of her life, having taught Catechism and being a member of Willing Workers and Guild.

Shirley will be remembered for many things, some of which are her love of baking, gardening, canning and embroidery work. Shirley especially loved spending time with her family and was a faithful listener of Twins baseball.

Thankful for having shared her life are her children: JoAnn (Steve) Rohrs of Summerfield, KS; Erma (Conrad) Meyer of Avon; Barbara (Ronald) Fuoss of Armour; Verlyn (Royleen) Jelsma, Sheryl (Leon) Vanderlei and Ivan (Deborah Jelsma, all of Springfield; Douglas (Melissa) Jelsma of Tyndall; Ronald (Carla) Jelsma of Armour; Diane (Douglas) Bochman and Carol (Edward) Radack of Tyndall; and Vicki (David) Hovorka of Tabor; 37 grandchildren; 46 great grandchildren; one great grandchild; a brother, Calvin (Vicki) Tjeerdsma of Brandon; two sisters: Phyllis Romkema of SpringfieldJoyce (Larry) Svanda of Tyndall; sisters-in-law: Cornelia Tjeerdsma of Avon; Jerralynne Tjeerdsma of Sioux Falls; Beverly Jelsma of Springfield; Betty Herrick of Grand Rapids, MI; and brother-in-law, Roy (Jana) Jelsma of Springfield.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald on Nov. 22, 1996; infant son Norman Lee on Oct. 18, 1951; grandson Dustin Jelsma on Jan. 2, 2005; great grandson Kobe Jelsma on June 26, 2004; 3 brothers: Orvan, James and Leslie Tjeerdsma; parents-in-law, Nick (Agnes) Jelsma; step mother-in-law, Nell Jelsma; sisters-in-law: Gertrude Tjeerdsma, Gertrude Palsma; brothers-in-law: Raymond Romkema; Andrew and Robert Jelsma; Bert Palsma and George Herrick.