Funeral Services for Shirley Weaver, age 78 of Hettinger, will be 10:30 am Saturday, February 19, at the Assembly of God Church in Hettinger. Pastor Allen Wickstrom and Rev Paul Sandgren will officiate with burial at Hettinger Cemetery.

A Family service will be 7:00 pm Friday evening at the Assembly of God Church in Hettinger.

Daughter…Wife…Mother…Grandmother…Great Grandmother…Sister…Aunt…Neighbor…Friend…
Shirley Anne Sandgren was born March 7, 1932 in the Sandgren Family Farmhouse in rural Perkins County near Cole, SD.


A lifelong Hettinger area resident. During her early years she attended a one-room country school with her siblings, graduating from high school at Hettinger. Staying away from home in a dormitory, she also attended school at Ipswich, SD. Earning a teaching degree from college, she taught at rural schools in North and South Dakota.


Pursuing a new avenue, she became a nurses' aide at the Community Memorial Hospital where she met the tall, lanky, good-looking son of one of her patients. Albert Weaver soon proposed and they married at the Sandgren home on September 16, 1950. The next 60 years of this love was spent on farms in Perkins County, SD and Adams County, ND.


A help mate to her husband, the farm life led her down the road of life as a livestock buyer of sorts. The weekly trip to town from the farm was scheduled on Friday so she could attend sale day. Her keen insight into the livestock market was an asset, as she was known as "the lady that buys the bucket calves". The passion she had for the farm animals can be seen today on the family farm.


After spending 16 years on the Erlandson Ranch, they purchased a farm east of town and moved their family to Hettinger where Shirley continued to support her family, church, and friends. The Lakeview Motel was fortunate enough to have her working in the laundry and housekeeping. This eventually led her to employment with what is known today as West River Health Services. At WRHS she had 20 plus years of commitment to the healthcare community through her service in housekeeping, laundry, and kitchen. Retiring from the work force, Shirley devoted her time to family and friends. She thrived by driving around the community, checking the farm animals and crops, spending time with friends over coffee and going to the Grandchildren's events.


An odds beater, diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2007 and given 6 months, her doctor shared that she was one of the longest living chemotherapy patients. She spent the next three and a half years at Western Horizons Care Center getting out daily with someone for a road trip or spending hours on her cell phone visiting with family and friends.


Faith was the core of Shirley's existence. A woman of strong belief in her Savior and Lord, Shirley shared that belief through her example, many times reading Bible stories to others. Without being judgmental, you always knew how and where she stood.


A cheerleader for everyone she met, never shy, she would find out who you were, where you were from, and who were you related to, "you were never a stranger". Someone once said, "The only thing larger than Shirley was her heart!" Shirley passed away Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at the Western Horizons Care Center.


Surviving family members include her husband, Albert, children and their spouses, Linda and Les Braaten, Hettinger, ND; James and Bernetta Weaver, Rapid City, SD; Carol and Barry Wiechmann, Rapid City, SD; John and Pam Weaver, Hettinger, ND; 7 grandchildren, Brooke Noack, Robyn Hart, Amber Weaver, Tyler Weaver and Nathan, Nicole and Nevan Weaver; and 8 great grandchildren, Matthew and Emily Noack and Tennille, Aden, Mariana, Orin, Kai and Holden Hart. A sister, Phyllis Sandgren, Hettinger, ND; 4 brothers and sisters-in-law, David Sandgren, Missoula, MT, Paul and Evelyn Sandgren, Meriden, KS, John and Sharon Sandgren, Damascus, OR, Joe Sandgren, Hettinger, ND; and Thelma Sandgren, Shadehill, SD, and numerous nieces and nephews.


Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Herb and Marjorie (Hobaugh) Sandgren, as well as brothers George and Bud.

Visitation will be on Friday from 1:00 to 6:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger.