Sharon Eiesland

SHARON LYNNE EIESLAND was born on January 3, 1941 to Otto and Helen (Prickett) Spitzer in Lake Andes, South Dakota. Sharon attended Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota, graduating from there in 1962. Following graduation, she became employed by the South Dakota State Department as a secretary in the licensing division. In 1964, Sharon resigned from her position and moved to Oahu, Hawaii and worked for a local realty company as a receptionist while her husband was stationed at the military base. In December of 1966, the couple moved to Ft. Benning, Georgia where she acted as a receptionist for the adjutant of the base. Sharon returned to South Dakota and began working as the secretary for the South Dakota Department of Vocational Education. While she was raising her children, Sharon worked as a nursing assistant. She fell in love with the job, and enrolled in the Pierre School of Practical Nursing, graduating from there in 1980. After graduating, she then began working as a LPN for Riverpark Treatment Center and then was employed as an LPN for the Rivercrest Manor in Pierre, South Dakota. In 1988, she became employed at the Maryhouse, a long-term care facility. Sharon returned to the Rivercrest Manor, now called the Missouri Valley Nursing Center and continued to work there until moving to Colorado in 1992. For two years, she worked at Riverdale Rehab Center working with residents in need of mental health services and medication management. She was then employed at Alpine Living Centers of Thornton Colorado as a charge nurse and in case management until her retirement in 2008. While working as a nursing assistant and LPN, Sharon enjoyed spending time with the residents, with a strong belief in dignity, respect, compassion and a touch of love with a genuine heart that was expressed to those whom she cared for on a daily basis. The couple moved to the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota, creating a home for themselves. Sharon died peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Pipestone County Medical Center at the age of 79 years, one month, and three days.

During Sharon's teenage years she attended the United Methodist Church in Pierre, South Dakota, with her mother, Helen. She then attended the Nazarene Church in Miller, South Dakota, where she was an active part of the church. It was at this time that Sharon accented Jesus Christ as her Savior! Sharon loved music and she loved to sing! In her youth, she enjoyed being a part of the high school choir (her mother was the director of music at that time). Sharon passed along her love of music to her children. Her children carried on that love of music far past their high school years. She enjoyed music from the 50s, 60s, and the 70s, ranging from Elvis Presley to the Statler Brothers. Sharon also enjoyed time pheasant hunting near Blunt and Highmore, South Dakota with her husband, Gary. While there, they would visit Gary's parents, Merle and Ruth. Sharon and Ruth greatly enjoyed chatting about cooking and recipes. Sharon also enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, camping, and beautiful summer evenings. She could often be found enjoying a nice steak dinner and a glass of Zinfadel wine with her husband and friends. Above all else, Sharon's kindness and caring demeanor was evident as she always put the needs of others above her own. She would always look for the good in others rather than the bad
Sharon is lovingly remembered by her husband of 33 years, Gary of Edgerton, Minnesota; her children, Holly Clifford of Pipestone, Minnesota, Mark (Terri) Newman of Bryan, Texas, and Bruce Johnson, Jr. of the Twin Cities, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Alyssa (Arron) Gillette, Ashley (Zachary) Zak, Mark Surdezsmith, Blake Newman, and Chris Newman; six great-grandchildren, Ryan Gillette, Brooklynn Gillette, Kara Zak, Connor Zak, McKinley Gillette, and Camden Zak; Gary's daughters, Roxanne Cuccia of Jacksonville, Florida and Lisa Brescia of New York, New York; and many other loving friends and family members. She was preceded in death by her parents.