View Service Folder For Irene


Irene Lucille Winterberg of Timber Lake, South Dakota passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at Avera MaryHouse nursing home in Pierre (SD) at age 88.

Irene (Schaeffer) Winterberg was born August 21, 1929 on a farm south of Mosher just 25 miles from Winner. She was the second child of eleven children and the eldest daughter of Arvid and Betsy Schaeffer. For the first ten years of life, she lived near Mosher before moving to a farm by Timber Lake. There she'd attend Butte Country School and graduate from Timber Lake High School in 1947. From there, she attended Black Hills Teacher College in Spearfish before receiving her teacher's certificate and teaching at Fisher School near Trail City from 1947-48 and Chapel School for another six months. Irene married Willis Winterberg on June 1, 1948 in Timber Lake where they would raise six children on their dairy farm.

In 1993, they moved to a house in town. After Willis passed away, she moved into the Timber Lake Manor, then to Edgewood Assisted Living in Pierre where her granddaughter Jacalyn Crawford and great-grandchild Teddi helped care for her, and finally Avera MaryHouse Nursing home where she passed away.

During her life, she and Willis traveled many places to visit children and relatives. When at home, she was well-known for her sewing, canning, and gardening (a skill which she passed down to her daughters, Bonnie and Lorene). Herself, children, and grandchildren have all worn something she made for them and her roses have appeared in the the newspaper while her photography won her blue ribbons and filled many a photo album. Her entire life, she was an active member of the First Baptist Church, but she was also involved with TOPS, book clubs, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

In 2001, Irene was a semi-finalist in the International Open Poetry contest. Everyone who knew her, at some point, has eaten her legendary dinner rolls or angel food cake she baked in the familiar kitchen that housed many Thanksgivings and family gatherings with menus dictated by families preferences and pickiness to always include Irene's Blueberry Dessert and never have steak.

Irene was a woman who knew what she wanted-- and wasn't afraid to tell anyone; she was also a woman who drove through town with her purse on the top of her car: an example for everyone to embrace who they are without apology.

Much gratitude to Donna Fischer for her caring nature and patience, Tim Schmautz's handyman skills, the dedicated, loving staff of Edgewood Senior Living and Maryhouse of Pierre, and to the empathic Dr. Barnes.

Funeral services for Irene Winterberg age 88 of Timber Lake will be at 11 AM, Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at the United Parish in Timber Lake. Burial will be in the Timber Lake Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 6 PM Tuesday with a prayer service at 7 PM at the church.

In 2001, Irene wrote a poem, "A Kaleidoscope Sunset: "I paused and looked at the sky… I beheld the most beautiful sunset… Instead of the usual orange hue there were shades of pink, gray, and blue… more lovely than a rose. From whence all the colors appear only our lord knows," now she may ask the formula and create her own sunsets for the rest of us to write about.

Irene will survive in the memories and thoughts of many, many family members: daughters Bonnie Crawford of Fort Pierre (SD) and Lorene (Del) Walker of Aurora (CO); sons Carl Winterberg of Timber Lake (SD), Steven Winterberg of San Antonio (TX), Dan (Joyce) Winterberg of Mt. Pleasant (IA), John (Karen) Winterberg of Bismarck (ND); brothers Paul Schaeffer of West Burlington (IA) and Carol Crance of Mobridge (SD); sisters Ruth Madsen of Eugene (OR), Carmen Dolan of Seattle (WA), Dixie Garr of Bell Fourche (SD), Deanna Munsch of Aberdeen (SD), and Mary Butterworth of Globe (AZ); sister-in-law Ella Schaeffer of Alexandra (LA); brother-in-law Don Hieb of Murdo (SD). Grandsons: Shannon Crawford of Fort Pierre (SD), Billy Crawford (Heather) of OshKosh (WI), Adrian (Alaina) Winterberg of Timber Lake (SD), Aaron Winterberg (Tosha) of Aberdeen (SD), Brian Winterberg of IN , Ron Winterberg of Timber Lake (SD), Blaine Winterberg of East Carondelet (IL) , Jacob (Holly) Winterberg of Muscatine (IA), Joshua Winterberg, Mount Pleasant (IA), Marcus (Adrianna) Walker of LasVegas (NV), DJ Walker of Aurora (CO). Granddaughters: Jacalyn (Tim) Crawford of Pierre (SD), Kayla (Matt) Fisher of Cottonwood (AZ), Heaven (Mitch) Coffey of Albuquerque (NM), Shawna (Jason) Winterberg of Bismarck (ND), Ravan (Chris) Winterberg of Mobridge (SD), Raquel Walker of Atlanta (GA), Jada Walker of Aurora (CO). Great-grandchildren: Francheska Crawford Hanke, Theodora Crawford, Paige Fisher, Nickolas Fisher, Piper Crawford, Jesse Winterberg, Adrianna Winterberg, Tucker Winterberg, Chandler Winterberg, Cassidy Winterberg, Madison Winterberg, Andre Winterberg, Jade Winterberg, Jasmine Winterberg, Sadie Coffey, Jett Coffey, Tracey Winterberg, Aaleyah Hinsley, Octavia Hinsley, Maddie Winterberg.

Preceding her in death were her husband Willis; her parents Arvid Schaeffer and Betsy Schaeffer; sister Cecelia Heib; brothers Lawrence Schaeffer and Roger Schaeffer; father and mother in-laws William and Katherine Winterberg; brothers-in-law Clarence Winterberg, Bob Madsen, Adrian Crance, Gordon Anderson, Paul Garr, and Jim Munsch; sisters-in-law Mabel (Winterberg) Gunderson, Mildred Winterberg, Edna (Winterberg) Rowley, and Edith (Winterberg) Schaefer; son-in-law Pat Crawford; and niece (and her husband) Janice and Maynard Hanson.

A Kaleidoscope Sunset

By Irene Winterberg

As I was entering my sister's home one evening

I paused and looked at the sky

above the pines in the Black Hills

I beheld the most beautiful sunset.

The clouds moving swiftly

through the sunbeams

cast a kaleidoscope of colors

forming an ever changing view.

Instead of the usual orange hue

there were shades of pink, gray, and blue

as brilliant as sapphire

and more lovely than a rose.

From whence all the colors appear

only our lord knows.