Shelley Fay Knutson, age 62 of Letcher passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, February 13, 2020 of natural causes. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 18 at the Community Center in Letcher, South Dakota. Visitation will be from 6 - 8 p.m. on Monday, February 17 at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. The family welcomes her friends and loved ones to bring their memories and stories to share.

Shelley was born March 10, 1957 to Morrie and Esther Putnam. She lived a life of lasting friendships, laughter, hospitality, and memories. On November 1, 1975 she married Kevin Knutson. Together, they ran the Rec on Letcher's Main Street until she purchased the Corner Café in 1984 running it successfully until 1997. Shelley was a natural at forming lasting friendships, and was always the first to welcome newcomers to the community – after all, they had to eat at the Café.

Just months after purchasing the Corner Café, she and Kevin welcomed their firstborn, Katie Knutson, on November 12; two years later on July 16, 1987 James Darwin (J.D.) made them a family of four.

At both the Café and at home, Shelley loved to bake and cook – especially chicken and dumplings, her children's favorite – and always had macaroni and cheese in the fridge for them. It was just one of the ways she made sure to form lasting memories; while Katie and J.D. were young, Shelley and Kevin made time to take family vacations in order to form great memories to last forever.

In her early years she loved to fish, hunt pheasant and deer, snowmobile, and enjoy afternoon motorcycle rides. For many years after the Café, Cabela's in Mitchell was graced with her presence – and all her orneriness. Poet is where she spent her remaining years of work. A natural at forming lasting friendships and memories, she was known for a laughter that could be heard for miles. Her natural hospitality made her a pillar of the community: She was the first one on the scene to clean up after a big storm, and was often seen at community events helping out as much as she could. In these ways and others, she was unforgettable.

Shelley had a loving and fulfilling life, and in many ways was just getting started: In recent years she had discovered a love for travel, especially to Mexico and Las Vegas. In just a couple months, she was set to become a grandmother to a baby boy.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and infant brother. Shelley is survived by the love of her life, Kevin Knutson; daughter Katie (Keith) Ramm; son J.D. (Tara) Knutson; brothers Shawn (Donna) Putnam and Doug Putnam, nieces and nephews; and countless friends; all of whom will remember their "mean ol lady" for her laughter, their shared memories, and her constantly saying: Love you more.