Shirley Tennis

Shirley Tennis, age 95, of Conde, the widow of Louis Tennis, died on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30AM on Monday, September 14, 2020, in the St Joseph's Catholic Church of Turton with the Reverend Tom Hartman celebrating. Public visitation services will begin at 9:30AM in the church. Burial will follow, after a time of fellowship, in the Conde Catholic Cemetery. Masks or face coverings are highly recommended.

Shirley Tennis was the child of Roy and Juanita Nash and was born at Northville, SD on October 19, 1924. Her early years in education were spent at country schools and Northville Public School. When she was 13, her mother passed away leaving her father with nine kids and no money. In the 8 ^th grade, she moved to Conde, graduating with the class of 1942. After graduation, she and Grace White went to Seattle and became Rosy the Riveters during the war effort. In 1943, she returned to Conde and worked at various jobs. She married Louis Tennis, Jr. in 1944.

They shared many trials and tribulations on the farm. On October 15, 1946, a son Robert Louis was born. In 1951 a daughter, Jeannie Marie was born who passed away shortly after birth due to Shirley having RH- blood. She was a house wife, gate watcher, cattle herder, and worked in the fields until Bob was old enough. Louis' idea of old enough was about 9.

Louis and Shirley worked the land and raised about any animal you could mention.  Louis attended all of Bob's ball games and Shirley went occasionally but she would get mad at Louis as he always said the refs were terrible and would holler at them.

Louis died on Shirley's birthday in 1996. Both Louis and Shirley were very proud of Bob's graduation from high school, his college Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree. The thing Shirley was most proud of was her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She lived on the farm alone until 2001. When Bob retired from education, he came home to the farm to live with her.

Eric Tennis, her grandson was born severely handicapped with arthrogryposis but he made the most out of life. Eric was the joy of Shirley's life. They had a handicapped van and went all over to various functions, etc.  He passed away on November 8, 2008 at age 30 which took a lot out of her as she looked forward to going places with him and a lot of times another person would ride with them.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, an infant daughter, grandson Eric Tennis; in-laws, Violet (George) Pomeroy and Ivan (Virginia) Tennis; and siblings Phillis "Tooty" (Keith) Harford, Betty (Berthold) Lenling, Austin "Bud" (Helen) Nash, Eileen (Howard) Taylor, Neva (Bill) Carpenter, Jerry Nash, and David Nash.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Bob Tennis of Conde;  her three grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren which she loved dearly – Todd (Amy) Tennis and daughters Tiffany & Whitney Tennis of Clarkfield, MN, Sean (Laurie) Tennis and daughters Sierra and Katie Tennis of Watertown; sister Sharon (Ken) Hildreth of Huntington Beach, CA, and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley lived a very full life and she is now in God's hands.

Arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home in Clark where there is an online registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com