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 near rural Lakeview in Todd County, South Dakota 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, 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, Kendal, 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 a brother-in-law, Ralph Hoffine and sister-in-law Janice Richie.
Funeral services for Claudia Sharkey, age 76, of Valentine, Nebraska are pending at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine.