Shirley Moseley

A funeral service for Shirley Moseley, 85, of Camp Crook, SD will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 17, 2023 at the Camp Crook Community Center. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Camp Crook.

Visitation for Shirley will take place one hour prior to the service at the Camp Crook Community Center.

Shirley passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at Fallon Medical Complex, Baker, MT.

Shirley Moseley was the third child of six children born to Arvo and Evelyn Teppo. She grew up on the family farm that Shirley’s maternal grandmother, Matlena Lahonen, homesteaded northwest of Newell, South Dakota. Isoäiti (Grandma) lived her days with the Teppo family. The farm was located in a Finnish community where most neighbors spoke Finnish. Shirley didn’t speak English until she started in a country school. After finishing the 8th grade in the country, Shirley attended high school in Newell. She worked for her room and board all 4 years of high school, graduating in 1955. Here she developed a deep loathing for pancakes fried in mutton grease.

Shirley attended Black Hills Teaching College and earned a teaching certificate. Shirley taught at several Butte County country schools until she moved to Camp Crook, South Dakota, to teach the “lower room” in 1964. Shirley met Max Moseley, a handsome, quiet rancher. Shirley married Max on August 20, 1966, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Shirley taught school until their first daughter was born in 1968. Max and Shirley raised four daughters on the ranch: Maxine, Shirrel , Tracy, and Hope.

Shirley’s childhood was marked by hard work, which carried into her adult life. Every year, Shirley raised a huge garden, canning or freezing all the produce. She ordered a brood of chicks annually and butchered many chickens for the freezer. Shirley sewed clothes for her family, including their underwear.

Shirley had many interests and was curious about many things. She loved astronomy and talked Max into driving the truck to the Simmons Place, where the family could watch the Northern Lights from the truck bed, bundled in blankets. Shirley belonged outdoors, and Moseley camping destinations were the sandbar on the Little Missouri River and the Short Pines. She found beauty and a true treasure in the rocks, twisted sticks, and wildflowers she picked up on her hikes. Shirley and Max shared a love for arrowheads and other artifacts scattered all over the ranch. Shirley walked miles on the hardpan with her "toad stabber," finding many artifacts in the sagebrush and cactus. Shirley was fascinated by birds and learned to identify the birds that visited her many feeders. She despised grackles for the thieving bullies that they were. Shirley belonged to a birding club where she made lifelong friends. She participated in the Audobon Society's annual bird count for many years. She loved poetry, reading it and writing it. She would recite hundreds of poems, including the Cremation of Sam McGee and Hiawatha.

Shirley had an artistic eye and crocheted many afghans, doilies, table toppers, and tote bags. She crocheted all the hats and mittens for her family through the years. A talented seamstress, she made many block quilts.

Growing up in a musical family, Shirley loved to play music with other musicians. She played by ear, never having a lesson in her life. She excelled at the piano and the accordion. For years, Shirley loved playing gigs and played with Dean Tarter, Johnny Anderson, and Don Heggem. Over the years, Shirley played with many talented people and loved every minute. Shirley made many lifelong friends at jam sessions.

Shirley loved the Lord and His grace that made salvation possible. She earnestly studied the Bible and was not afraid to ask thoughtful questions. An accomplished cusser, Shirley hedged her bets and attended two churches: the Belltower Seventh Day Adventist Church and the United Methodist Church. These church members became her family, too, especially her Methodist Church family. Shirley played the piano/keyboard for both churches for many years.

Shirley was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She expected her daughters to do their best, work hard, and never take a handout. Grandma doted on her grandchildren and created many adventures for each of them. She wrote storybooks for them, binding them with duct tape. Her great-grandchildren were the cherry on top of the family sundae. Shirley was very proud of her family.

As her health failed, her inner strength and sheer will kept her going even when the odds were against her. When Shirley could no longer remain in the big house in Camp Crook, she moved into the Peaceful Prairie Estates, where she made a new family with the residents. Shirley moved into the Fallon Medical Complex on January 13, 2023. She made friends quickly with nurses and residents.

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Maxine (Dean) Rasmussen of Camp Crook, SD, Shirrel (Chad) Moore of Sioux Falls, SD, Tracy (Matt) Teigen of Camp Crook, SD, and Hope Moseley of Sioux Falls, SD, eight grandchildren: Colter, Karissa, Taylor, Abby, Max, Madeline (Jess), Kasey and Karlin and three great-grandchildren: Jaxson, Astara, and Brecken. She is survived by her brother Maynard (Anna) Teppo of Fruitdale, SD; sister, Mayves Anderson of Lake Stevens, WA; sister-in-law Renee Teppo; brother-in-law Richard “Dick” Moseley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Max Moseley, parents Arvo and Evelyn Teppo; brothers Wesley Teppo, Richard “Dick” Teppo, and Delmar Teppo; sisters-in-law Shirley Teppo, Joan Baier, Betsy Moseley; brothers-in-law Lloyd “Doc” Anderson, Tommy Moseley, Joe Baier; nephews Blayne Teppo, Vance Baier; great nieces, Maxine Moseley Knodel, Kaylee Teppo.

SISU!