Sheron L. Gulbranson, 84, of Brookings, passed away, Monday, July 20, 2020 at the Brookings Hospital. Sheron Lorraine (Wandell) was born in Goldendale, WA on Nov. 15, 1935 premature and was incubated on an oven door. She went to 1st grade at McKinley in rural Toppenish, WA. In 1944 they went to South Dakota for her Dad's inheritance from his grandparents and his family also lived there. Her parents and sister left Washington switching trains in Woonsocket, SD and stayed in the hotel there until they got on the train to Flandreau, SD. They arrived in Flandreau, SD on her 9th birthday and her sister's 10th birthday on November 15, 1944 for a total of a week riding the Train. Living North West of Flandreau, SD her dad farmed with Uncle Ed Aakers and then moved to the Munson farm.  She went to Country Schools (Riverview and Dexter) 2nd grade thru 8th grade and Flandreau High School for her freshman and junior years. Fall of 1953 her sophomore year her family moved east of Carl Drewes, 1/4 mile on North side of road by the creek or 1 mile west of our original family farm (Merle and Sheron's farm). She finished out her senior year at Rutland where she met the love of her life Merle. 1954-1955 She had to move in with her cousin Lawrence Lampson in order to finish High School in Rutland. Her parents moved to Sioux Falls to run a restaurant. After graduation she helped in the restaurant (White Castle) until she got married to Merle A. Gulbranson September 2, 1956. They made their home in Crooks and farmed for Cecil Byg and welcomed their first born, Merle M. 1957-1958 they moved to Colton, SD to work for William Swier. 1958-1960 they moved north of Brookings in a two room house and worked for Arley Hill. Craig was born while there. 1960 they bought Cliff Casjen's farm and farmed it with the kids until 1989 when they sold out and moved to Brookings, SD. In 1961 they bought Purina feeds with her brother-in-law Harold which included mobile feed grinding around the Brookings area, then took over Purina Produce in Flandreau, SD until 1970. While her husband was able to get various jobs to support the family along with farming she was a stay at home mom. She tried keeping her kids busy while they were at home. During the summer we would take the horses to Flandreau or wherever, or ride bicycle to White, SD. She taught the kids to cook, sew, and be creative with their minds, etc. She taught us to respect our elders and not to forget them. Call them Mr, Mrs, or Miss and their last name and also take time to visit them whether at home or a nursing home. Mom started working for the nearby Turkey farm after raising the last of the 8 kids. About 1979 until 1985 then she got a job in town at Daktronics in 1990 working there until retirement in 1997. Being retired she still helped out with the family, grandkids and taking care of pets. When Merle A. retired they traveled a bit by themselves and with grand kids. When that was over Merle went back to work again and Sheron stayed at home to take care of family and the house. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2016 and Merle A. passed away June 4, 2018.

Sheron is survived by 8 children: Merle M.(DeAnn Maifield), Colman; Craig, Scott (Jill Hankins), Todd (Deborah Gordon), Terry (Lori Parsons), all of Brookings; Pamela (Bryan Behm) LeVasseur, Omaha, Ne; Anna (Les) Bothe, Badger, SD; Sidney, Madison; 16 grandkids, 11 great-grandkids. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Paul Everett Wandell, sister, Charlott "Joan" Jacobson and two grandkids (Leah and Dustin Gulbranson).

Private family services will be held and will be live-streamed on the Skroch Funeral Chapel Facebook page at 2:00 pm, Friday, July 24, 2020. Burial will be at Midway Lutheran Cemetery, Colman, SD. Public visitation without the family present will be Thursday, July 23, 2020 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau. www.skrochfc.com

Livestream Link: https://www.facebook.com/Skroch-Funeral-Chapel-121810428372367