1927
Shirley
2024
Shirley Kristensen
June 6, 1927 — July 15, 2024
Shirley Kristensen, age 97, left this world to be with Jesus on July 15th. She passed away peacefully under the care of Interim Hospice at Our House Memory Care in Chippewa Falls with her daughter by her side. She was born on the farm homesteaded by her family outside of Morristown, South Dakota.
Her parents were Ralph and Vera Payne. She lived with Art and Irene Ries after her father died. Irene's sister was a sister-in-law of Vera. They adopted her at the age of 17 when Shirley could choose to do so. She graduated Valedictorian from Oklee High School in Oklee, MN and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a double major in History and Sociology along with a double minor in Psychology and Religion. She met the love of her life, Lowell, at Concordia College. He placed their initials on a leaf he shaped like a heart on their first date. He threw it into Prexy's Pond on Concordia College Campus and told her they would come back there to celebrate their 25 th wedding anniversary. They were married 70 plus years.
She worked at Yale Library while Lowell attended medical school even after their 2 eldest children were born. Lowell worked on the railroad to help get through medical school. They initially settled in Chetek before moving to Rice Lake. She taught many Bible studies before she was married and at different times throughout her married adult life. She and Lowell participated in the LAMP Program and traveled to Jamaica and Mexico on mission projects. She had an unshakeable faith in her Heavenly Father and an unconditional love for each child, grandchild and great grandchild. She enjoyed many travels with family to Banff, Jasper and Alaska. She even backpacked throughout Europe and into Israel with her youngest son Steve, staying in youth hostels and traveling by train. She loved sharing that story. She revisited Israel on a later trip with Lowell.
She loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens as well as in her strawberry and raspberry patches. Family and friends loved her fresh berry pies and her grandchildren in particular remember her delicious cranberry malts during the holidays. She was a gourmet cook. She also baked many Norwegian cookies and made lefse for the holidays. One of her favorite greetings for the grandchildren was " I love you a bushel and a peck with a hug around the neck".
Thank you for the wonderful memories’ mom (and dad). We were so blessed to have you as parents.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son David and all of her 12 siblings. She is survived by her sons, John (Lou Anne), Steve (Hildania) and her daughter Kathi (Gary), grandchildren, Angela, Jennifer, Eric, Graham, Meagan, Karl, Kayla, Alex and Ruth, her great grandchildren, David, twins Norah and Adrienne, Aurora and Luna, her sisters-in-law, Marilyn Kristensen and Florence Kristensen and many nieces and nephews.
A private family celebration of life will be held in the near future. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husbands at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Dr. Sandager and Dr. Alaoua of Marshfield Clinics for the wonderful, exceptional care they provided to our parents and to thank the staff at Willowbrook Assisted Living in Eau Claire for the loving care of both of our parents and for the staff at Interim Hospice and Our House Memory Care for the wonderful care and support of our mom.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationisociety-wi.com.
Her parents were Ralph and Vera Payne. She lived with Art and Irene Ries after her father died. Irene's sister was a sister-in-law of Vera. They adopted her at the age of 17 when Shirley could choose to do so. She graduated Valedictorian from Oklee High School in Oklee, MN and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN with a double major in History and Sociology along with a double minor in Psychology and Religion. She met the love of her life, Lowell, at Concordia College. He placed their initials on a leaf he shaped like a heart on their first date. He threw it into Prexy's Pond on Concordia College Campus and told her they would come back there to celebrate their 25 th wedding anniversary. They were married 70 plus years.
She worked at Yale Library while Lowell attended medical school even after their 2 eldest children were born. Lowell worked on the railroad to help get through medical school. They initially settled in Chetek before moving to Rice Lake. She taught many Bible studies before she was married and at different times throughout her married adult life. She and Lowell participated in the LAMP Program and traveled to Jamaica and Mexico on mission projects. She had an unshakeable faith in her Heavenly Father and an unconditional love for each child, grandchild and great grandchild. She enjoyed many travels with family to Banff, Jasper and Alaska. She even backpacked throughout Europe and into Israel with her youngest son Steve, staying in youth hostels and traveling by train. She loved sharing that story. She revisited Israel on a later trip with Lowell.
She loved working in her flower and vegetable gardens as well as in her strawberry and raspberry patches. Family and friends loved her fresh berry pies and her grandchildren in particular remember her delicious cranberry malts during the holidays. She was a gourmet cook. She also baked many Norwegian cookies and made lefse for the holidays. One of her favorite greetings for the grandchildren was " I love you a bushel and a peck with a hug around the neck".
Thank you for the wonderful memories’ mom (and dad). We were so blessed to have you as parents.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son David and all of her 12 siblings. She is survived by her sons, John (Lou Anne), Steve (Hildania) and her daughter Kathi (Gary), grandchildren, Angela, Jennifer, Eric, Graham, Meagan, Karl, Kayla, Alex and Ruth, her great grandchildren, David, twins Norah and Adrienne, Aurora and Luna, her sisters-in-law, Marilyn Kristensen and Florence Kristensen and many nieces and nephews.
A private family celebration of life will be held in the near future. Her ashes will be buried alongside her husbands at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Dr. Sandager and Dr. Alaoua of Marshfield Clinics for the wonderful, exceptional care they provided to our parents and to thank the staff at Willowbrook Assisted Living in Eau Claire for the loving care of both of our parents and for the staff at Interim Hospice and Our House Memory Care for the wonderful care and support of our mom.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationisociety-wi.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Kristensen, please visit our flower store.
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