Shockey Roots

Renee Schultz, age 96, of Yale, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Stoneybrook Suites in Huron. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 688 Dakota Avenue S, Huron SD with fellowship and lunch immediately following the service at the church. Internment will be held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Yale SD.
Her service will be live-streamed at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Livestream
Visitation, with her family present, will be from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, February 21, 2025 at Welter Funeral Home in Huron. A Prayer Service will begin at 6:30 Friday evening at the funeral home. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning.
Renee was born on March 15, 1928 in Kingsford Michigan to Orville Charles and Clara Eva (Rowley) LaPorte. She grew up in Michigan where her father worked for the Ford Motor Company.
At her neighbor’s encouragement she wrote letters to Herbert Martin Schultz when he was in the Army during WWII serving on Okinawa in the Pacific theatre. When Herbert returned stateside, he traveled to Michigan to meet Renee; they married on February 3, 1946 in Iron Mountain.
They settled in Yale South Dakota and dedicated themselves to their family and community. Renee was a member Trinity Lutheran Church in Yale, where she was active in the Ladies Aid Association, the Lutherans Missionary League. She was also active in the PTA at the local K-12 Yale School.
After she had successfully raised her own children, she became a Foster Parent, nurturing many children with love and wisdom. In 2004, she was recognized for her service, receiving the prestigious “Tradition of Caring Jefferson Award” from KELO television.
Renee was a talented crafter, working in textiles, beadwork and crocheting. She was also a voracious reader and fond of puzzles and collecting dolls in her later years.
Renee was the consummate nurturer, showing love, care and respect for all who knew her. Many of her foster children maintained a relationship with Renee into the next generation of their own families.
Renee was preceded in death by her husband & parents, a daughter Amy Clara Schultz, siblings & spouses Leo & Lois Laporte, Herb & Betty (LaPorte) Johnson, step-daughter Heidi Hautala and son-in-law Arnold Gene Hemmingson.
She is survived by children: Linda (Gayland) Davis of Sioux Falls SD; Connie (Gary) Cleland of Oacoma SD; Susan Hemmingson of Spearfish SD; Herbert J. (Peggy) Schultz of Buhl, MN; Joan (Ross) McCanles of Rogers, MN; and Ginger (Matt) Moeding of Huron, SD: grandchildren: Jamie Larson, Joy Harrison, Brian Larson, Dana (Lori) Davis, Jennnifer (Daniel) Flores, Desi (Steve) Van Dam, Leah (Scott) Shockey, Dustin (Amy) Hautala, Joshua Schultz, Nate Gross, Elias Gross, Amber (Justin) Bell and Mason (Jennifer) Moeding; nieces & nephews: Danelle Brown, Danny Laporte, Kathy Isaacs and Cheryl Bye, all of Washington State; 19 Great-grandchildren soon to be 21 and 6 great-great-grandchildren. 2 “grandsons” of the heart: Tristan & Sebastian Cardona.

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Welter Funeral Home on Feb. 17, 2025.