Shirley Thorson (nee Bedner) was born in 1926 in Mitchell, South Dakota and raised in Yankton. She earned a nursing degree from Northwestern University in Chicago and while living there in 1948 she married Robert Thorson of DeSmet. As a result of Robert s career in the US Navy she lived in many parts of the US including California, Hawaii, Florida, Maine, and Virginia as well as several years in Athens, Greece. She was an avid golfer, a charming hostess, a devoted wife, a loving mother and doting grandmother. Although Alzheimer s disease robbed her of her memory she remained a kind and happy person until the day of her passing, January 18th, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents Alice and Archie Bedner and her younger brother Ray all of Yankton and her husband Robert. She is survived by her son James, daughter-in-law Connie Smith, and twin granddaughters Alison and Patricia all of Minneapolis and brother-in-law James Thorson and his wife Connie of Albuquerque, New Mexico. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings. Interment will follow at the DeSmet Cemetery. Eidsness Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. *Please Note that Shirley's date of death was January 18, 2014.