Shirley M. Peterman, 77, of Miller, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at her home surrounded by her family.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church, Miller, with Rev. Brian Jones officiating.  Burial will follow at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.  Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 8, 2021 followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.  Masks are required to attend either service.

Shirley was born on July 24, 1943 in Wagner, South Dakota to Elmer and Helen (Chytka) Sell.  She was the fourth born of nine children.  She spent her early childhood years in Lake Andes, South Dakota before moving to the Burdette, South Dakota area.  Shirley attended grade school in Lake Andes and finished her education in Hand County.

Shirley met Robert Peterman, the love of her life, in 1959.  On March 22, 1963 they married at the Hand County Court House.  They were married for 57 years, 11 months and 8 days.  To this union, four children were born: Barbara, Bruce, David, and Gary.

Shirley has always had a strong work ethic and a giving heart.  She was the first one to volunteer if a job needed to be done.  Cooking, cleaning, hosting a holiday meal or babysitting ~ she did them all with capable hands and a quick wit.  As a teenager she earned money by babysitting and cleaning homes for neighbors.  She and Robert lived on a farm north of Vayland, South Dakota, where she was an able hand.  Doing the chores, hand milking the cows, tending to the laying hens, and planting a large vegetable garden.  Saturday’s she would load up the four kids, the cream, and the eggs.  The first stop was at the creamery to sell her goods and that money was then used to buy groceries for the week.  Her garden supplied the goods to be canned and stored away for the winter months.  She was very skilled at canning and made some of the crunchiest dill pickles around.

Shirley eventually took a job in town as a waitress at Lip’s Café in Miller, South Dakota.  This part time job turned into 35 years.  She loved her job and the people that passed through the café.  After Lip’s Café closed, she found a part time job at the Ranch Café, doing what she knew best ~ serving people.

Shirley’s family was her top priority and she loved to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and her great grandchildren.  She enjoyed any event that they were involved in.  She will always be remembered as a strong, quick witted, loving lady.

Thankful to have shared her life is her husband, Robert; her children: Barbara (Lawrence) Weidenbach, Bruce (Shannon) Peterman, David (Dawn) Peterman, and Gary (Colleen) Peterman; grandchildren: Kristina (Blake) Sweeter, Daniel Weidenbach, Michael Weidenbach, Colin Weidenbach, Amber Peterman, Ryan Peterman, Lane Peterman, Cody Peterman, Colton Peterman, Miranda (Josh) Krumm, Dillon Peterman, and Hayden (Constance) Peterman; great grandchildren: Kirby Sweeter, Kolsen Sweeter, Kinley Peterman, Jameson Krumm, Breanna Krumm and Ella Peterman; sisters: Jean Myears, twin sister, Sharon Davis, Linda Clark, Arlene Danielson, and Diane Goetz; and brother, Robert Sell.

Shirley was preceded in death by her mother, Helen Hrdlicka; stepfather, Lawrence Hrdlicka; and brothers: Larry Sell and Edward Sell.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Shirley’s arrangements.

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