Cheris Wagner

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Cheris Wagner, 75, of Agar, passed away, Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 7, 2016 at the Agar Hall with Pastor Jeff Adel presiding. Burial followed in Onida Cemetery, Onida. Visitation was held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, 2016 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the Agar hall.

Cheris J. Shoup was born June 6, 1940, in Sully County, South Dakota to Benjamin and Genevieve (Cavanaugh) Shoup. She attended country school in North Morton Township in Sully County and graduated from Agar High School in 1958. During her high school years she stayed with Dorthy & Sherman Seward in Agar. Ironically, she had no idea at the time, but she would one day marry Dorthy’s younger brother Arlo. Following graduation from High School, she moved to Minneapolis, MN for a year and worked in a physician’s office at a local hospital. During this time, she became home sick and decided to return to South Dakota where she did housekeeping for Kenny & Darlene Smith of Agar.

On July 2, 1959, Cheris was united in marriage to Arlo C. Wagner at the Methodist parsonage in Onida. They made their home in numerous places between 1959 and 1966, which included small stints in Agar, 1.5 years in Miller, and 3 years east of Cotton Wood Lake before finally settling on the family farm, where they have resided for the last 50 years. This is where they raised their 5 children.

Cheris loved country and western music. During the years that she raised her family, she played the piano and sang in bands including Warren’s Western Swing and Shoup’s Country Western Band which included other family members. After raising her children, she decided to go on and pursue a career in Nursing. She attended the Pierre School of Practical Nursing and graduated as an LPN, on August 13, 1982.   She went on to work at the Pierre River Park Foundation, the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital and the Oahe Manor Nursing home, until her retirement. She was a very compassionate and loving nurse who took particular pride in caring for the elderly.

Cheris’s primary passion was her family, which included her husband Arlo, five children, 16 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She looked forward to attending any events such as weddings that would give her an opportunity to dance with her husband Arlo. She loved to dance and thoroughly enjoyed “hands on” activities with her children and grandchildren that included things such as taking them fishing, playing games, and attending various school and sporting events. She always made herself available to babysit grandchildren when ever needed.   Her most recent interest became “mastering” her computer where she enjoyed communicating with family and friends through Face book, emails, Pinterest, and playing various computer games. She especially enjoyed creating electronic picture catalogs from the thousands of pictures sent to her from family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 56 years, Arlo; her children: Scott (Joan) Wagner of Robins, Iowa and children Geoff (Nell), Jamie, Seth; Michael Wagner of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and children Zachari, Kaeli; Twila (Mike) Rausch of Gettysburg and children Chad (Erika), Shaun (Tasha), Kylee (Dustin); Sheila (Mark) Schatz of Gettysburg and children Brody, Shaelyn, Makaivry; and April Beringer (fiancé Paul Broderick) of Spearfish and children Skyler, Jack, Aidan, Kadyn, Kenadie; and six great grandchildren Easton, Cashton, Layton, Brooklyn, Addelyn, and Nora; two brothers: Jim (Carol) Shoup of Onida and Ben (Loni) Shoup of Pierre; two sisters: Marje Zebroski of Watertown and Cindy (Ralph) Thoene of Sioux Falls and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin & Genevieve Shoup; brother & sister-in-law, Rick & Dorthy Shoup; brother-in-law Jerry Zebroski and grandson Brock Schatz.

In lieu of flowers, memorials should be directed to the Cheris Wagner Memorial, c/o Sheila Schatz, 101 S. Cottage St. Gettysburg, SD 57442.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Cheris’ arrangements.