Shirley Ljunggren, 95, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at the Edgewood Memory Care in Sioux Falls. Her funeral service will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025 at the United Methodist Church in Dell Rapids. Visitation will be one hour prior to the start of the service. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery.
Shirley was born on October 31, 1930 in Fairfield, NE, the daughter of Len and Viola (Brown) Smith. She grew up on a farm in Giltner, NE and graduated from Giltner High School. She married Don Ljunggren on May 20, 1947. The couple moved to South Dakota in 1956. As their children grew, Shirley went back and got her LPN degree and later her RN degree. She worked at the Veterans Hospital, Avera McKennan Hospital, the Dell Rapids Hospital and at Terrace Manor in Dell Rapids. She retired at the age of 75 to help babysit her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don passed away on January 21, 2017.
Shirley enjoyed quilting, gardening, crocheting, and her and Don loved to travel. Her family was the love of her life, especially her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She was always a care taker. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Dell Rapids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don; her two sons, Danny and Gale; her daughter-in-law, Marcie; three grandchildren, Donald, David and Jenae; great-granddaughter, Mariana; brothers, Melvin, Claire, Ivan, Irvin and Orville and her sisters, Bertha and Norene.
She is survived by her sons, Gary (Chris) Ljunggren of Billings, MT and Alan (Linda) Ljunggren of Dell Rapids; her daughters, Shirlette Ljunggren of Dell Rapids and Sherrie (Jay) Linneman of Dell Rapids; her 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren and her sister-in-law, Norma Smith.
To Edgewood Memory Care and St. Croix Hospice, our family would like to acknowledge the gift of kindness and tenderness with the care towards our mother and grandmother (who was always “Grandma”). Loving Grandma was your greatest gift.
Celebrate a life with the whole community in The Dakota Scout. Contact obits@thedakotascout.com to have your loved one remembered today.