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Irene Ruth Holsworth

3/16/1929 - 8/14/2025

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Obituary For Irene Ruth Holsworth

Irene Ruth (Shimmin) Holsworth, 96, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, SD.

She was born on March 16, 1929, in Albertha Township, Dickey County, North Dakota to Charles Shimmin and Marie (Anliker) Shimmin. Irene grew up on a farm near Ellendale, North Dakota. She attended schools in the Ellendale and Forbes area.

On September 26, 1946, Irene married Junior James Holsworth in Aberdeen, SD. After marriage they settled on a farm in Brown County, SD, south of Forbes, ND. From this union, nine children were born. In 1954, the family moved to Rapid City, SD.

In 1967, Irene started working outside the home when her youngest started school. She had a long career in retail starting at Newberry’s, then Kresge’s and K-Mart. She retired after 25 years in 1994.

Irene and Junior relocated to first Aurora, CO in 1983 and then later to Grapevine, TX for Junior’s health. Junior passed away October 1985. Irene remained in the mid-cities area of Dallas/Fort Worth, TX and took her retirement from K-Mart to return to Rapid City, SD.

Survivors are her adult children: James (Donna) Holsworth, Hermosa, SD, Elaine Hook, Rapid City, SD, Jerry (Deberah) Holsworth, Pilot Point, TX, Judy (Jack) Smith, Oxford, PA, Nancy Birkeland, Rapid City, SD, Rodney (Linda) Holsworth, Odessa, TX, Debra (Patrick) Bilbrey, River Falls, WI and Michael (Connie) Holsworth, Black Hawk, SD. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren; and siblings: Oscar (Evie) Fuller, Ellendale, ND, Barbara (Chuck) Fuller Slusher, Marquez, TX, Rosemarie Fuller Wallace, Bismark, ND and Robert (Jayne) Fuller, Golden Valley, MN.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior of 39 years, an infant daughter, Carol Ann, son-in-law Jerryce Hook, son-in-law Jim Birkeland, granddaughter Debe James Warner, parents, stepfather Roy Fuller, brother Vernard Shimmin and sister Evelyn Shimmin Holsworth.

Donations can be made to Monument Health Hospice House in Irene’s name.

A very special THANK YOU to the staff at Monument Health Hospice House. The care, kindness, and compassion they all had was exemplary in every way!

Live Stream

Services

22 Aug

Celebration of Life

09:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home 632 Saint Francis St. Rapid City, SD 57701 Get Directions »
22 Aug

Interment

11:00 AM - 11:30 PM

Black Hills National Cemetery 20901 Pleasant Valley Dr Sturgis, SD 57785 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

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  • Ocean Devotion

    Nancy Birkeland sent Ocean Devotion for Irene Ruth Holsworth - 08/18/2025

    Love you and miss you Mom, Grandma and Great Grandma From the Nancy Birkeland Family Luke and Lily Birkeland Shanda and Ray Joe, Shaelynn and Jocelynn Sara Birkeland and Garret Despiegler

Condolences

  • 08/18/2025

    We were just notified of Aunt Irene's passing! We so enjoyed the times we got to spend with her family & her when we got the chance! Wonderful family that we miss. Aunt Irene will be missed by all! Our condolences to her whole family! Love from Eugene & Marlene Davis - Florida

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