Obituary of Shirley Gene Payer

Lake Andes - Shirley Gene Payer, 84, went to her heavenly home Tuesday, October 23 at the Lake Andes Healthcare Center in Lake Andes.  Funeral mass will be Saturday, October 27 at 10:30 am at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Lake Andes.  Visitation will be Friday, October 26 from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Lake Andes.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Lake Andes.

Shirley was born August 17, 1934 to Frank and Ella (Brotherson) Petrik on a farm in Charles Mix County, SD.  She attended White Swan #5 grade school and later graduated from Lake Andes Public High School.  She was united in marriage to Leo J. Payer on April 6, 1953 at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Lake Andes.  Later that year, the couple moved to the Payer homestead where they farmed and raised their family.  Shirley was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church, Altar and Rosary Societies, Catholic Daughters, Parish Council, American Legion Auxiliary Post #10, and the VFW Auxiliary Post #3239 where she also served as president.

Grateful for having shared her life are her 5 children:  Raymond Payer of Warner; Janet (Tom) Carda of Woonsocket; Rodrick (Jeanne) Payer of Lake Andes; Todd (Norma) Payer of Lennox; and Thomas (Sheila) Payer of Armour; a sister, Carol Pesicka of Armour; a brother, Tommy (Karen) Petrik of Ethan; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; and a step-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo; and a grandson, Shawn.