Shirley Dayton
Shirley Dayton, 93, of Aberdeen, SD, died Monday, September 19, 2022, at home.
Shirley Jean Vitense was born at the family farm home north of Columbia, SD on May 10, 1929, to Rudolph John and Lois Leota (McCormick) Vitense. She spent her first six school years attending grade school in Columbia and when the family moved to Brainard Township nearby she attended seventh and eighth grade in Brainard Prairie View Rural School. She graduated in 1947, from four years of high school in Columbia. There was a teacher shortage at the time. She attended Northern State Teacher College for six weeks. She taught in Rondell Country School for the 47-48 year. After six more weeks of college the following summer, she was able to teach at the country school at Plana, SD, for a considerable pay raise.
In December of 1948, she became engaged to the love of her life, Ben Dayton and they were married on June 2, 1949. Son, Allan and daughter, Bonnie were born while their parents resided and farmed in the Stratford, SD area. In the fall of 1953, the family moved to her father’s farm near Columbia, SD where they farmed until August of 1991. Daughters, LeAnn and JoLyn were born while living here. Shirley taught three sessions of kindergarten while at Columbia but was the farm wife and partner in farming during their farming days.
In 1975, the family purchased a travel trailer and began wintering for the next 30 years in Texas, California, and Arizona; returning each spring to farm. During the summer months, they enjoyed many outings with the Hub City Sam’s Camping Club. During their travels they met and loved many friends from many states, Canada, and Mexico who became life-long friends. Sister Ione, her husband, Lloyd Schelbitzki, and brother, Forrest Vitense were usually their winter neighbors- especially the 20 years in Yuma, Arizona. They enjoyed card games, dancing, many potlucks and get togethers. She and Ben were very active in the Columbia Congregational Church and held various offices. She also served on the Brainard Township School Board until rural schools dissolved.
After retiring in 1991, they moved to the acreage of daughter, LeAnn and husband, Larry Conn where they lived in their travel trailer for 11 years during the summer months. During this time, they became members of First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen. Shirley participated in Bible Study Classes and Sarah Circle and United Methodist Women. She was also a member of meals ministry and she loved to cook. Her beloved husband, Ben, passed away in June 2011 from a fatal fall. Her twelve nearby grandchildren were a real blessing after Ben’s death.
She leaves to mourn four children: Allan (Debbie) Dayton, Bonnie (Roger) Brick, LeAnn Conn, Jo Lyn Boyett; six grandchildren, twenty-five great grandchildren, and eleven great-great grandchildren; siblings: Ione (Lloyd) Schelbitzki, Mavis Leif, Neil (Nan) Vitense, Murriel (Bob) Oles; sisters-in-law, Kathie Vitense and Fae Dayton; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Shirley in death are her husband, Ben Dayton; parents, Rudy and Lois Vitense; son-in-law, Larry Conn; and siblings: Myrtle (Walt) Sieber, Myrtis (John) Daly, Bob Vitense, Elaine (Bud) Frohling, Forrest Vitense, and Wanda (Leon) Stange.