Imogene Wittenhagen

Imogene Shaffer Wittenhagen was born in her Grandma Emma’s house north of Lucas, SD, on April 24, 1934, to Vilas and Florence Shaffer.

She lived in Lead, SD, for several years, and then her family moved to the farm north of Gregory, SD, in 1941. She graduated high school in 1952 and attended the National School of Business in Rapid City, SD, graduating with a degree in business. Her first job was at Standard Oil of Indiana in Huron, SD, in the credit card division. She mostly used a comptometer and liked working there. Imogene’s mother became ill with cancer about this time, and it became apparent that Florence wouldn't survive. Imogene quit Standard Oil in December 1954 to come home to the farm to care for her mother, her dad, and brothers Marlyn, Ron, and Bob.

Imogene met Jim Wittenhagen through co-workers. They married in June 1956 in Gregory and had four children: Douglas (Stephanie), Diane, Craig (Camille), and Jeffrey (Sandi). Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Jennifer (Doug’s daughter) with children Evie and AJ; Nicholas (Doug’s son) and Hillary (Doug’s daughter) with her daughter Isla and son Miles; her second son Craig’s daughter Lindsey with her daughter Parker, and Craig’s son Jordan; and Jeff, her third son, with Megan (his daughter), Ethan (his son), and Callie (his daughter).

Job opportunities included volunteering for the Catholic church, and at schools and libraries, and employment as a bank teller, census taker, and home health caretaker.

Imogene enjoyed thoroughly researching family genealogy, tracing the family back to Germany and helping the family to understand who and where they came from and what influenced them.

Imogene loved gardening, and especially planting and caring for flowers. One of her hobbies was ceramics. She tried to teach her children and grandchildren how to embroider, sew, cook, bake, clean, accept all that they were asked/told to do, and believe in God and His wondrous love and mercy for us. Patience was not always her greatest virtue, but it certainly helped. Imogene had a natural passion and ability for finding excellent quality solid wood furniture, and especially pieces made of maple. She enjoyed cleaning/stripping the wood and helping the beauty of the wood to come forth, to be seen quietly and in the background.

Imogene knew how to love, care for others, and comfort those hurting or upset, whether she knew them or not. She gave wonderful hugs and received them well also. She had many friends who cared for her and could see the beauty and kindness within her.

Throughout her lifetime, she moved several times, from Watertown to Lake Norden to Huron and Aberdeen within SD, to Lakewood, CO, returning to Rapid City, SD.

She thoroughly enjoyed traveling throughout the USA, Mexico, Europe, South America, and Australia. Her favorites included Australia and Mexico City.

She passed away on April 8, 2023. Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD, was in charge of arrangements.