Nurses regularly deal with death in their work, but often their own passing goes unrecognized. A new organization hopes to change that.

For 42 years, Shirley Struble was a nurse in Rapid City. Deeply dedicated to her profession, she made lifelong friends and helped countless patients and families through their toughest times.

Shirley, 80, died on Christmas Day of 2022. A new group called the West River Nurse Honor Guard attended her celebration of life to conduct a special ceremony recognizing Shirley’s life and work.

The ceremony itself is simple, and it’s flexible to meet the needs of the family or the facility where the service is held. Honor Guard members wear traditional nurse caps, white uniforms and blue capes.

At Shirley’s memorial, West River Nurse Honor Guard President Heather Solon, RN began by lighting the Florence Nightingale Lamp. She then recited the Nurse’s Prayer, The Florence Nightingale Pledge and brief tribute. The Honor Guard presented a single white rose and rang a triangle to mark the final call of duty. Shirley’s name was recited three times, and when she did not respond, the lamp was then extinguished and Heather closed the ceremony and said, “We officially release you from your nursing duties. Please go and rest in peace.”

Shirley’s daughter Tami Struble, was grateful for the Honor Guard’s presentation.

“They did a really nice job honoring the career of my mom. She wasn’t just a mother. She spent countless hours being a nurse, and the ceremony really brought that home to us, so we were able to reflect on that part of her life,” she said.

The ceremony is meaningful for the members of the Honor Guard as well, said member Marcy Morrison, RN, a case manager at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital. Marcy knew Shirley and was touched by the ceremony. However, she now realizes that honoring nurses — even nurses she never met — is a meaningful experience.

“I had no idea how rewarding it would be,” she said. “Nursing is much more than a professional pursuit. It’s a way of life, a calling.” Participating in the Nurse Honor Guard ceremonies has reinforced that passion. “It pulls the profession of nursing together. It truly is a ministry to be a part of such an intimate time for nurses, but is also so touching for families to know that someone thought so highly of their loved one,” she said.

Heather Solon, who lives in Kadoka, formed the West River Nurse Honor Society in early 2019. As of mid-April 2024, the group had participated in more than a dozen nurse funerals in the region.

Heather was inspired, in part, by the 2019 funeral for her father, a Vietnam veteran and friend of law enforcement.

In addition to military graveside rites, the county sheriff and his deputies served as an honor guard at his funeral. She felt that the honor guard was a fitting tribute.

In a recent South Dakota Public Broadcasting video, Heather said her goal is to honor nurses both in life and in death. “We just need to say thank you. Your career and your dedication did not go unnoticed. You deserve this honor, you deserve to be recognized for your career,” she said.

Marcy, who grew up in Philip, saw a story about the group in the Pioneer Review, the Philip newspaper, and contacted Heather about joining. Since then, the West River Nurse Honor Guard has expanded to about three dozen members from all over western South Dakota.

Honor Guard services are available to anyone who worked as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Certified Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist or Certified Nurse Midwife and have passed away. The Honor Guard, usually three to six nurses, attends the funeral, memorial service or celebration of life to conduct the ceremony.

The ceremony is free of charge for families. The chapter does accept donations to help with expenses. Contact information is available at most West River funeral homes, and the group also relies on family, friends and clergy to contact the Honor Guard when a nurse has passed.

For more information, contact Heather at the West River Nurse Honor Guard at WestRivrNrseHnrGrd@gmail.com or 605-837-2992.