Marian "Marne" Shaffer

Marian "Marne" Shaffer, 90, of Roslyn, and formerly of Sioux Falls, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Strand Kjorsvig Living Center in Roslyn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Strand Kjorsvig Living Center, PO Box 195, 801 Main Street, Roslyn, SD 57261; or to First Presbyterian Church of Sioux Falls, 2300 S West Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105.

Celebrations of Life will be held in Minneapolis MN and Sioux Falls SD in the fall of 2025.

Marian Jean Maxfield was born January 18, 1935, to Harvey Elmer and Mabel Viola (Hansen) Maxfield in Milbank SD; she was the youngest of 3 girls. Harvey ran the grocery store on Main Street in Milbank – ‘Max and Jens’. Marian went by Marne from the time she was a little girl, a spinoff nickname after her grandmother Maren.

She attended her first year of college at Mankato State, then transferred to Northern State Teacher’s College in Aberdeen SD, where she would get her teaching degree.

While taking classes at Northern, dormitory girlfriends set Marne up on a blind date with Jack Shaffer. They fell for each other and had a wonderful 64 ½ year marriage. They courted and honeymooned at the ‘Shaffer Shack’ lake cabin on Pickerel Lake, and this location would be a much-loved summer sanctuary for them both. They had a remarkable love for and commitment to each other.

They first lived in Lake Benton, MN, then moved to Sioux Falls SD, where twins Ruth and Paul were born. Jack’s career with the telephone company would move them to Fargo ND (where youngest daughter Diane arrived), Lisle IL, Fargo ND again, and finally Omaha NE. The friendships they established endured and they stayed in touch with many friends long after they had moved to their next home. After Jack retired, they decided to settle in Sioux Falls SD to be closer to their children and the cabin.

She loved to read and to garden – both flowers and vegetables. She could sew almost anything – clothing, curtains, even furniture covers. She also knitted and crocheted. She was an excellent cook.

Marne was an avid volunteer, always active with her church women’s groups. In Fargo, gave tours at the Fargo Forum newspaper. While living in Omaha, she taught inmates how to read at the prison. For the 30 years she lived in Sioux Falls before moving to Roslyn, she was a fixture at First Presbyterian Church, Sanford volunteer desk outside Orthopedics, and delivered Meals on Wheels with Jack.

Marne was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband Jack, her parents, sister Joan, niece Anne, granddaughter Jessica, and great-grandson Eliyas. She leaves behind children Ruth Shaffer (Will Hansen), Paul Shaffer, Diane Perkins, grandsons Jason and Kevin, granddaughter Anna, 10 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, her sister Janice, and a host of extended family and dear friends.