Sharon C. Rishoi

Sharon Carlene Rishoi, age 82, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday, August 4, from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 5, at First United Methodist Church in Watertown. Rev. Jen Tyler will officiate. The service will be live-streamed via Facebook Live and the Crawford-Osthus website. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery followed by a luncheon back at the church.

Sharon was born on February 16, 1939, in Winner, SD, to Sanford Clarence and Arlene Leota (Collins) Parker.  She graduated from Winner High School in 1957 where she excelled academically, artistically, held leadership positions, and was selected Homecoming Princess of her graduating class.

She attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD before transferring to the University of South Dakota in Vermilion where she graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. She later completed her Master of Music degree at the same institution in 1978.

On July 25, 1965, she was united in marriage with Stanley G. Rishoi.

Sharon was hired by the Watertown Public School System in 1961 and served as Junior High Band Director and private instrumental instructor until she retired in 1998. She was an excellent pianist and accompanied many students for the Region 3 Music Contest over the years as well as preparing them for All-State Band and Orchestra auditions. The standard of excellence in her teaching was second to none.

Under the auspices of the professional music fraternity Phi Beta Mu, she received two significant awards: Outstanding Bandmaster of the State of South Dakota in 1992 and the Distinguished Service Award in 1999.

A long-standing member of the First United Methodist Church, she sang in the alto section of the chancel choir, served as director of the youth choir and was always willing to help out at church dinners. She played in the percussion section of the Watertown Municipal Band from 1967 to 1996 and was a member of the Monday Night Music Club for many years.

Sharon was an active board member on the Watertown Concert Series Association and was responsible for ticket sales until 2019.  She also served as secretary of her homeowners association at Skyview Condominiums.

She was a member of two women’s social groups: a weekly meditation group and a monthly dinner group. Sharon enjoyed watching professional sports and PBS with her dear friend Legia Spicer of 31 years. Sharon loved flowers and always had fresh-cut flowers adorning her home.

She was a generous contributor to the SPCA and other animal rescue organizations, to South Dakota Public Broadcasting and to USD in Vermillion, her alma mater. A generous, kind and loving human being, Sharon gave her all in everything she did and was a blessing to all who knew her.

She is survived by her daughter, Stacey Erinn (Gustav Andreassen) Rishoi, of Bellevue, KY; her grandson, Owen Lucas Rishoi Andreassen of Bellevue, KY; and sisters Sandi Kay Bowers of San Marcos, CA, and Carol Jean (Duane) Ahlers of Palmer Lake, CO. 

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel   www.crawfordosthus.com  Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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