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Shirley Krause

Shirley Krause
Shirley Krause

Eminent Homemaker

County: Deuel

Shirley Krause is a woman with many talents. In the community service arena, she has led the South Dakota 4-H Latchkey Program, served as president of South Dakota Pork Council Women, was president of the Clear Lake Women's Legion Auxiliary and is active on the Deuel County Extension Board.

But her community service activities are just a part of her life. She also is an active partner on her family farm in Deuel County, keeping the farm records and doing field work. Krause, her husband Edwin and their son Laron are partners in a 2,000-acre diversified farming operation. Krause does much of the land preparation for the crops and works the ground in the fall after the crops have been harvested. In addition, she hauls grain and helps with the pig chores.

Krause has been on the Deuel County Extension Board for six years and has been an active supporter of the Cooperative Extension Service and 4-H for more than two decades.

She is a leader in the Deuel County Pork Council Women's organization and has served two terms as state president of the organization. She and her husband traveled to Florida to promote pork in supermarkets. The program was sponsored by the National Pork Producers Council and was designed to teach consumers about the nutritional merits of eating pork.

She represented South Dakota at National 4-H Latchkey Training in Washington, D.C. After receiving training, she developed a Latchkey program for South Dakota.

She is a sought-after judge for county fairs and achievement days in surrounding counties. She has served as a 4-H leader for more than 20 years and has held all offices in the county 4-H Leaders Association. Krause is a 25-year member of the Sisters of the Skillet Extension club and has served in several leadership positions.

Also an active church member, Shirley has taught Sunday school for 15 years, and has served on the governing board of the church council. She has been active in PTA and booster club activities of the Deuel school. She has served as president of the Clear Lake Women's Legion Auxiliary organization.

Shirley and her husband Edwin have four children: Regina Reynolds of Ruthven, Iowa; Laron of Clear Lake; Rita Kelsey of Wessington and Karla Jacobsen of Geneva, Nebraska.