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Remembering those who have left us. This obituaries page is a simple tribute to individuals who touched our lives. May their legacies endure in our memories.
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
Program
Services
Celebration of Life
09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Interment
11:00 AM - 11:30 PM
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Tributes
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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
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08/22/2025
Dear Family,, We are at the service for Irene today by streaming! A beautiful tribute to her! We have been honored to have known Irene! Ed is her cousin and I met her at the reunion!
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08/22/2025
SINCERE SYMPATHY TO Irenes family, may you have pace and comfort that she is wrapped in Gods arms! Blessing! Ed & Barbara Shimmin Devils Lake, ND
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08/21/2025
Condolences to the family. Irene and my mother, Frances Wilson Noldner Niedan, were cousins and I had the privilege to meet Irene and Elaine at a Shimmin reunion in Forbes, ND. It was very nice to have met her. Again, sympathy to the family. Shirley Sorensen, Renton WA
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08/20/2025
My condolences to the Holsworth family on the death of Irene. I know you will all miss her. Emily Dobson (Layne Hook's mother-in-law)
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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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