Agatha Mary Sherman, 88, of Rockham, SD died Friday, October 21, 2011 at her home in Rockham, attended by her immediate family and Compassionate Care Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, October 24, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. St. Mary's Catholic Church in Zell. Father Christopher Hughes will celebrate the mass. Burial will be in St. Mary's cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2-8:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home with a rosary and scriptural wake service at 7:00 p.m. the family present at 6:00 p.m. (www.thelenfuneralhome.com)

Agatha Mary Sherman was born January 7, 1923, near Zell, SD to Joseph and Mathilda (Leitner) Gruenwald. She graduated from Rockham High School and then after beauty school attended Presentation College and Northern State University in Aberdeen and was awarded a degree in Social Science with a double major in Sociology and Psychology. Agatha met Ray Sherman and they were smitten and within a few short months a celebration was set May 2, 1942.They raised six children together; five daughters and a son. To her loving children Agatha passed on a legacy of adventure and an unmatched zest for life. She had an amazing skill at playing scrabble, growing plants and gardening which filled her basement cellar with bright jars of canned tomatoes and juices. She maintained a beauty shop in her home for years providing beautiful hairstyles to the ladies of the community and skilled haircuts to the gentlemen. Her love of adventure was unmatched from an early age traveling across country to see her future husband or sightseeing with family and friends. Only two weeks ago she traveled with her daughter and grandson to enjoy the New England fall colors and Maine Lobster. She enjoyed her grandkids and great grandkids and traveled great distances to enjoy them.
She is survived by her children Connie (Don) Catron, Sandra Sherman, James (Stephanie) Sherman, Mary-Jo (Lee Wright) Huckins, Jeanie (Jerry) Clement, Lani (Dan) Crosse, her brother Ignatius (Lucille) Gruenwald, and sister Mary Angela (Dick) Edgar. She is also survived by twenty four grandchildren, forty-two great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husband Ray, her brothers Giles, Myron, James, Jerome, and grandson Levi Clement.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Compassionate Care Hospice C/O Wells Fargo 25 W 6th Ave Redfield SD 57469