It is with deep sorrow and much love that we announce the passing of Shirley Mae Bischoff Rohrer on October 8, 2026 in Rapid City, SD. Her services are pending at this time.

Shirley was born on May 9, 1929 in Huron to Everett and Mildred Bischoff and raised on the family farm. She attended one-room country schools and since her family supplied the water for one of the schools, she and her brother Ronnie hauled it in a pony cart. When it was time for high school, she stayed with her Grandma and Grandpa Brock in Huron during the week. Eventually she and two other girlfriends shared an apartment until they graduated in 1947. After graduation, she worked briefly in the office at the Fairmont Dairy and in the local dime store. When the Bureau of Reclamation opened a new office in Huron, she applied and was hired in the Human Resources Department where she worked for three years.

After dating for three years, she married Herbert Rohrer on March 19, 1950 at the American Lutheran Church in Huron, SD where they became life-long, dedicated members. Their family grew to include three children, Judy, Larry and Nancy. In 2000, they celebrated 58 years of marriage.

Shirley was a creative and detailed crafter and seamstress sewing many of her growing family’s clothing with or without a pattern. She especially enjoyed sewing stuffed animals and dolls. She sold many of her crafts at bazaars and fairs in Apache Junction, AZ, Huron and Rapid City, SD. Her friends and family have many of her creations as keepsakes. She took pride in creating a home and loved working in her beautiful flower and vegetable garden in Huron. She definitely had a green thumb. Maybe it was those beginning roots in farming. She was the go-to person to ask about any kind of flower. Her love of gardening was passed onto all three of her children.

While in Huron, Shirley was active at church in circle, quilting and Bible study. She was also the local Welcome Wagon hostess for many years. She was active in Huron Lionesses and received Lioness of the Year Award (2010) and Outstanding Lioness Service Award (2013). She was a lifetime member of the Huron Senior Center where she volunteered in the adult day care and craft room. She was also instrumental in starting a neuropathy support group both there and in AZ. She belonged to the Beadle County Domestic Engineers Extension Club for 30 years and was a lifetime member of the Huron Medical Center Auxiliary where she was a “Pink Lady”. Service to others was a very important part of the lives of Herb and Shirley. She and Herb wintered in Apache Junction, AZ for 19 years and in the summer, they loaded up their Airstream and enjoyed many good times with camping friends in the Huron Rovers and Airstream Camping Clubs.

In 2015, after living in Huron her entire life, she moved to Rapid City to be closer to family. We always admired her proactive decisions to move on, seeming to know even before her family, when it was time to make changes. By doing so, she made new memories celebrating family gatherings, birthdays and holidays. Being around family was her greatest joy and visits or calls from family and friends made her day.

She stayed up on all the daily news and was known to have a fantastic memory which her family often consulted. The last few years, she assembled many intricate puzzles and created dozens of greeting cards. She remembered everyone’s birthday and never missed sending cards to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

While she faced numerous health challenges including having polio in her teens, she lived life with a positive attitude, enjoyed visiting with people and lived by her Christian faith. We are so grateful to have had her as our Mom, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.

She is survived by her children: Judy (John) Hey, Larry (Deanna) Rohrer, and Nancy (Mike) Statz. Five grandchildren who were a blessing to her: Kelli (Scott) Flockhart and Chris (Ashley) Hey, Jacob (Colleen) Rohrer, Abby (Matt) Williams and Nathan Rohrer. She delighted in hearing about her nine great-grandchildren: Keira and Gaige Flockhart, Barrett and Evelyn Hey, Alfa Philomena, Rexford and Griffin Rohrer and Wyatt and Reagan Williams. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herb, her parents and brother, Ronnie.

Memorials can be sent to American Lutheran Church in Huron or the Huron Chapter of the Lions Club.