Sharon Claussen

Sharon Lee Claussen was born on February 19, 1936, to Charles and Elizabeth (Boy) Grave in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church which was just across the section from the family farm where she grew up. Sharon attended country school for the first two years and then went to Humbolt through 8th Grade. She returned to Hartford for High School, graduating in 1954. She married Alton Claussen in April of 1958 and she worked as a secretary at Regan General Agency, All Saint School and L.C. Lippert Company in Sioux Falls. Pipestone, Minnesota became their home in 1963. In 1974, she opened an in-home daycare in Pipestone where she lovingly provided childcare for dozens of children for 29 years. In April 2003, she had brain surgery at Mayo Clinic. She went home for a short time and then made her home at Falls Landing Assisted Living as one of their first residents when they opened. She entered the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in 2015 and resided there until she passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at the age of 89.

Sharon was a member of Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in Pipestone. She was also a member of the UCT, and the Legion and VFW Auxiliary (as a member and officer). She enjoyed embroidering dish towels. She was quite the BINGO shark at Good Sam; going to such great lengths to hide her and her roommate’s special/winning BINGO cards in her room each week so no one else could use them. Sharon always had a positive attitude and a good sense of humor. She liked to hide Easter eggs with $2 bills in them for her grandkids. She was always saving individual bags of Lay’s potato chips for the grandkids and great-grandkids for when they came for a visit. She had a real sweet tooth. You could always find cookies, candy, and Chex mix on her bedside table.

Sharon is lovingly remembered by her children, Terry (Karen) of Havre de Grace, Maryland, Randy of Mitchell, South Dakota, Troy (Mary Lou) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sherri (Tom) Pierson of Centerville, South Dakota, and Karla (Todd) Chamley of Trent, South Dakota; grandchildren, Don Claussen (Kristine), Chad Claussen (Tara), Kyle Claussen (Jessica), Jamie Juhl (Tyler), Brady Claussen (Kyla Schuler), Bianca Claussen (Kipper Johnson), Justin Claussen (Maya), Carrie Menke (Tony), Bethany Dhingra (Manan), Erin Kwan (Simon), Laurel Pierson, Tyler Pierson (Shae), Spencer Pierson, and Gunnar Chamley; great-grandchildren, Emma Claussen, Ryan Claussen, Warren Claussen, Sibyl Claussen, Lucy Claussen, Trey Juhl, Tyus Juhl, Maliyah Valleck, Xavier Menke, Colette Menke, Avila Menke, Rose Menke, Isaac Menke, Eden Kwan, and Elliott Pierson; one sister-in-law, Mabel Grave of Sioux Falls; and many other loving family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her brother, Marlin; and her parents.