Sharon Faye Ross, age 77

Sharon Faye Ross

Sharon Faye Ross, age 77, Sturgis, died Thursday, October 12, 2017 at the Lippold Hospice Suite at Sturgis Regional Hospital. 
 
Memorial service for Sharon was held  Tuesday, October 17, 2017, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Kris Garlick officiating. Inurnment followed at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.
 
Sharon was born September 9, 1940, in Ennis, MT, to John W. and Corinne A. (Elllefson) Schmidt. She grew up in Marcus on the family ranch where she lived with her parents and her brother, Jerry. She attended country school, taught by her mother. She stayed with her grandparents so she could attend high school in Sturgis, graduating in 1958. She then graduated from the National College of Business in Rapid City. She lived and worked in St. Petersburg, FL, and New Orleans, LA. She moved back to Sturgis in 1962 where she worked at Sturgis Community Federal Credit Union for 32 years, retiring in 2006. She married Vernon E. Ross on August 7, 1967 in Mitchell, SD. 
 
She spent much of her youth playing along Red Owl Creek with her many cousins that also lived along the creek. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, canning, and attending the many activities and sporting events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was adventurous. She rode on the back of her daughter's motorcycle from Sturgis to Cody, WY. She loved to camp, in a tent, the back of a pickup, or in a camper, it didn't matter, as long as she was in the outdoors. She was an avid photographer, filling many photo albums and winning contests with some of her outdoor photos. She always grew a large garden, usually larger than she and Vern needed. She canned or froze many fruits and vegetables from her garden every year. Many family weekends were spent in the Hills picking berries which she would turn into syrup or jelly. She was an avid fisherman and hunter, most times outfishing and outshooting the men in her life.  
 
She was very strong, overcoming many obstacles and illnesses in her life. She was sent to Shriners Hospital in Hot Springs to learn how to walk due to complications during her birth. She developed kidney disease and was put on dialysis until her husband Vern donated one of his kidneys, allowing them the freedom to enjoy doing the things they loved to do. She silently fought cancer for over 14 years, never complaining or giving up.
She is survived by her husband, Vern, Sturgis; daughter, Corinne (Steve) Johnson, Kingston, WA; step-son, Jerry (Linda) Ross, Rapid City, SD; 7 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins and friends.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Corinne Schmidt; an infant daughter, Michelle; brother, Jerry Schmidt; step-son, Leonard Ross; and grandsons, Gavin Ross and David Ross.
 
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Lipoid Hospice Suite at Sturgis Regional Hospital.

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