Mitchell, SD

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Learn The History Of Shafer Memorials

Experienced Provider Of Memorials and Monuments

For over 100 years, the business has been located at 1023 North Main in Mitchell, SD. The family-owned business has always had an office in their home. The garage and shop were a combination until 1979 when a new and modern shop was built on West 11th street, just across the alley from the home and office. The new shop area is where the units are engraved now. The office display is still on North Main, just 5 blocks north of the Corn Palace. The office has been enlarged and remodeled many times over the years to fit the growing business.

The first generation of Shafer Memorials began engraving by hand-chiseling the letters into the granite, followed by a pneumatic machine. Today, to do shape carving of flowers and leaves or rounded designs, a mixture of air and sand is forced through a hose and nozzle guided by skilled hands.

 
The units kept in stock are brought back from the quarries cut and polished, but the process of designing and engraving is completed in the office and shop by a Shafer family member.
All these years not only have the Shafer men completed the engraving but also the placement of the units at the cemeteries. The first erecting crews were mule teams, which then progressed to a truck with carts and manual leverage. Later an automatic hoist was added.

Our Craftsmanship Spans Many Generations

1st Generation
2nd Generation Clyde Leroy Shafer
3rd Generation
4th Generation Gary & Kay Shafer
5th Generation Rick & Kim (Shafer) Swank and 6th Generation Jeremy & Alex Swank

Awards and Recognition

We have generations of excellent customer service and customizable memorials. In 2011, we were named Family Business of the Year in Mitchell, SD. In 2012, we were named the runner-up for the Vickie Clarke Prairie Family Business of the Year, out of 16 competing businesses.
 
We are highly honored to have received these recognitions that pay tribute to our over 100 years of serving the community.
 
“See what you buy”
 
At Shafer Memorials, we carry a large inventory, so that you are always able to choose the size and type of granite in person and not just from a picture in a sales catalog. We are able to provide this physical display since we do in-house engraving. See and touch before you buy!
Shafer Memorials
4.9
Based on 7 reviews
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Terrance Schuldt
Terrance Schuldt
18:19 20 Apr 21
My wife and I had a very... good meeting at Shafer Memorial. We have done business with them in the past and we find them very informative and courteous to our needs. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has their needs.read more
Russell Mosemann
Russell Mosemann
17:26 09 Dec 20
The people of the... establishment are very friendly and easy to work with. They knew exactly what needed to be done, which is great in time of some distress after losing someone. They have a full selection of beautiful products, which is also nice. I would highly recommend them.read more
Ross Determan
Ross Determan
15:14 14 Aug 19
They know there stuff... here. They have been in business for over 100 years and you can see the quality in the work. Best place to get a monument to commemorate the ones we love.read more
Albertson Family
Albertson Family
03:54 28 Jan 19
Very caring and helpful... during a time of sorrow and loss.read more
Kay Shafer
Kay Shafer
18:33 16 Sep 17
Best Designers of your... peronal Family Monument. Quality granite, engraved on site , placed by a Shafer-Swank, who are the owners of the business.A Local Monument Company. They give Friendly Counsel, without obligation. You can stop by for a consultation, without a high pressured sales person pushing you to order, when you may not be ready.You are welcome to visit for a Consultation., view many Designs created on A Computer Layout & Printed to take home and view at home, in a leisurely atmosphere. It will have the contour of your granite monuments you are considering, with your inscriptions to see how they fit and all the Artwork.read more
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