Shirley Mae Burnett, age 84, of Huron, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Avantara - Huron.

View Shirley's Funeral Folder

Her funeral service was held at 1:30 PM Wednesday, July 2 at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with burial to follow in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Her service was live-streamed.

Her visitation was held from 12:00 PM until the start of the service at the funeral home on Wednesday.

Shirley Mae Johnson, the daughter of Vern and Regina (Buzeyn) Johnson, was born on September 4, 1940, in De Smet, South Dakota. Shirley attended schools in De Smet and Huron.

Shirley married Arlie Burnett on July 25, 1959, at her parent's home in rural Huron  The couple lived in Colorado for two years while Arlie was in the service and then returned to Huron.

Shirley was a member of the First United Methodist Church (now Faith Alive Church) for many years and served as the Sanctuary Seward for twenty of those years.

Shirley worked as a housekeeper for many of her friends. She also volunteered at the Violet Tschetter Nursing Home where Shirley and Arlie tended to the care of the cockatiel. Shirley liked to collect owl figurines. She also loved to bake and was known by many in the Huron community for her baking talents, especially her Macadamia Nut cookies.

Grateful for having shared in Shirley's life are her husband, Arlie of Huron; one brother, Robert (Mary Ellen) Johnson of De Smet; two sisters-in-law, Jessie Root of Huron and Beverly Allbee of Woonsocket; and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; two sisters, Audrey (Carl) Bitner and Wanda (Leo) Sevesind; one brother, Raymond (Madeline) Johnson; one nephew, Steven Johnson; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

View Shirley's Floral Arrangements