Shirley Mae Haase

Shirley Mae Haase (née Reinke), 84, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died May 29, 2022. Born June 28, 1937, in Walla Walla, Washington, she was the eldest child and only daughter of Oscar and Goldie Reinke. The new family returned to hometown Ellendale, North Dakota, where she grew up. After graduation from eighth grade, she helped on the family farm until marrying Leonard Haase, September 19, 1954. She gave birth to Debra the following July, followed four years later by Pamela, seven years later by Steven. Although Shirley recalled being a shy child, as a young mother she demonstrated courage and resilience, when she and Leonard moved their family to Many Farms, a rural community in Apache County, Arizona on the Navaho Indian reservation, where Leonard worked to build a children’s school. Shirley was exceptionally close to her parents and younger brother Gary, so she was happy when Leonard’s work returned them to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where their children grew up near grandparents, cousins, and extended family. When the children started school, she worked in a uniform shop downtown, until a nearby jewelry store owner recruited her. For the next 34 years she worked for Riddle’s Jewelry: 23 years in retail sales earning recognition for sales excellence, then 11 years in the communications office in Rapid City, where she & Leonard moved when the company built a factory there. A loyal, honest, hardworking employee, she helped many customers create special life moments with their jewelry purchases for loved ones. Ironically, she wore little jewelry herself, instead spending her money on gifts and travel for family holidays, vacations, graduations, weddings. She adored the Christmas season with its festivities, gift shopping, sweet treats, socializing, and special family meals & laughter. Had she been of a later generation, she most surely would have become a nurse, because she gave years of nurturing care to her elderly parents and her husband of 63 years. Shirley is survived by daughter Debra (Bill) Harris of Phoenix, AZ; daughter Pamela (Richard) Willett of New York, NY; son Steven (Joanne) Haase of Sioux Falls, SD; three grandchildren (Billy Harris, Lauren Besins, Christina Steinke) and their spouses; 6 greatgrandchildren; and her younger brother Gary Reinke and his family. The funeral will be 10AM Tuesday, June 21, 2022 with Pastor Roger Patzer officiating and visitation beginning at 9AM all at Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale. Burial is at Ellendale City Cemetery. Shirley’s service will be live streamed here on her obituary page. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.