Claudia Rae Sharkey was born to Claude and Violet (Whitcomb) Cornish on July 15,

1944. She was the middle of three children: Bill, the oldest, and Phyllis, the youngest. She was

born on the family farm in rural Lakeview (Todd County, SD) where she lived her entire

wonderful and full life.

Claudia went to grade school at the Lux and Meadow Valley Schools. She then

attended and graduated from Todd County High School in Mission, SD in 1962. Claudia

remembered having to ride a horse from Gunnick's to the home place, being snowed in for two

weeks, and then having to ride the horse back over to Gunnick's to get back to school. After

high school, Claudia attended business school in Rapid City, SD.

Claudia worked for Cherry-Todd Electric for 38 years and later served on the board

where she had the privilege to work with some of her closest friends. She started out as a file

clerk in 1963 and worked her way up to office manager. Claudia retired from Cherry-Todd

Electric in 2000.

In 1971, Claudia met the love of her life, Rolland Sharkey, at the Pheasant Bar in

Winner, SD over the Labor Day weekend. The two of them were married a year and a half

later on March 16, 1973. They started their family to which they had three ornery boys: Eddie,

Kevin, and Ronald.

After retirement, Claudia enjoyed working at the Rosebud Casino. If she wasn't working

there she and Rolland were playing the slots, where more often than not, they came home

broke. Claudia also enjoyed canning all of the garden produce from Rolland's garden. She

enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, but her grandchildren were the light of her LIFE

…all 9 of them!

Claudia Rae (Cornish) Sharkey passed away, with her loving husband holding her

hands, on November 12, 2020, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Claudia is survived by her husband of 47 years, Rolland Sharkey, three sons: Eddie

(Christine), Kevin (Tina), and Ronald (Michelle), nine grandchildren: Tyler, Ely, Kelsey

(Corey), Evyn, Emily, Kaia Rae, Kendall, Sloane, and Riggs, sisters in-law Lois (Bill) Cornish,

Harriet Hoffine, LaVonne (Don) Ring, brother-in-law Marvin (Linda) Sharkey, many nieces and

nephews, and numerous family friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Violet Cornish, one older

brother, William (Bill) Cornish, one younger sister, Phyllis Rowsey., and brother-in-law, Ralph

Hoffine, sister in law Janice Richie.

Graveside service for Claudia Sharkey age 76 of Valentine will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 25 ^th at 2:00 PM Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Visitation will be on Tuesday at 3:00 PM at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines.  Mrs. Sharkey passed away on Nov. 12 ^th in Sioux Falls, SD.

Survivors