After a life of love and quiet grace, Shirley Faye Lathrop of Brookings, SD has passed.
What follows is written with love, by those who knew her best.
The bonds of those who served beside her are bonds that time does not loosen.
Shirley Faye Lathrop, age 87, of Brookings, South Dakota passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday May 8, 2026 at 10:30am in Volga, SD at the First Reformed Church. A visitation will take place Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 5:00-7:00pm at the First Reformed Church.Shirley was born on a farm north East of Wentworth, SD on April 15, 1939. She was the first-born child of Glenn and Maxine (Shafer) Bloker. She attended all 12 years of School in Rutland, SD where she was active in band, playing the saxophone and was Majorette for the marching band. She also played basketball and was in the beauty pageant in Madison for Miss REA.Shirley graduated high school in 1957 and went on to attend Nettleton Community College. After that, she worked at the NW National Bank in Madison until September 1959 when she married her high school sweetheart, Vern Lathrop. After the wedding they moved to Norfolk, VA where Vern served in the US Navy. In 1961, they moved to Sioux Falls where Vern was employed and later that year, they welcomed their first child, Michelle. Shirley was a devoted stay-at-home-mom to her 3 children after welcoming 2 more sons, Kevin and Tim. Verns employment took them to Yankton, SD in 1971.Shirley is survived by her husband Vernon Lathrop; her children Shelly (Kyle) Kampmann, Kevin (Heather) Lathrop, and Tim (Shelley) Lathrop; her grandchildren Amy (Kelly) Visser, Jeffrey (Randi) Hartman, Brian Lathrop, Kelly Brozik, Kyle Lathrop, Brittney Lathrop, Anna (Jeremy) Tordsen, Katie (Andrew) Chenoweth; and her 12 great-grandchildren.She was proceeded in death by her parents, grandparents, aunts, a grandson (Adam A. Hartman), and many cousins.
