Irene Wilson

Irene Wilson, 94, of Mitchell, SD, died Saturday, February 4, 2023, at her home under the compassionate care of Avera Hospice. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, February 11, at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Mitchell with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Irene Maxine Wilson was born May 26, 1928, in Mitchell to Murvin and Gladys (Brees) Felton. She graduated from Mitchell Senior High in 1946. After graduation, she began work caring for two children and as a candy striper at the Methodist Hospital. She worked at the Equity Creamery where she would meet her future husband Kenneth F. Wilson. Their first date was at the skating rink where Kenneth impressed her by skating backwards. They were married on December 4, 1949, and settled on a farm across the highway from the 4-H fairgrounds and continued to live there their entire lives. Irene and Kenneth enjoyed square dancing, ballroom dancing, and playing cards with friends and neighbors. After raising their six children, Irene began working again. She waitressed at the Karmel Corn Shop, was a breakfast cook at Sunshine Grocery, did baking at DWU café, bookkeeping for Baldwin Realty, the Elks Lodge, Import Motors and Wise Tire. Irene owned the Nearly New Store, and a ceramic and flower shop. She enjoyed doing oil painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidering, bowling, playing the piano, reading, upholstering, and learning to speak Spanish. She had a green thumb for raising flowers and a large garden, so she could can food to feed her large family.

Irene became a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in 2004 and underwent emersion baptism in 2006. She enjoyed singing and sang with the Sweet Adeline’s, and also played the organ for the Senior Citizen Center and Cornerstone Baptist Church.

She is survived by her six children: LeeLand (Sandy) Wilson, Ronald Wilson, Corinne (Jerry) Wulf, Trudy Kirchhevel, Spencer Wilson, Warren (Sherri) Wilson, 14 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; brother, Donald Felton; sister, Myrtle; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, Everett and Marjorie Wilson and Clarion and Natalie Wilson.