Shirley Hamre, long-time resident of Beltrami and Fertile, MN, and also Mesa, AZ, passed away on February 22, 2024, at Greenleaf Assisted Living in Thief River Falls, MN. The cause of death was the result of complications from a fall. 
Shirley Ann Wegge was born August 17, 1929, to Selmer and Agnes Wegge of Buxton, ND. She was the eldest and only daughter of five children. Showing early signs of being musically gifted, Shirley attended grades 1-8 at the Bingham County School in Buxton before attending grades 9-12 where she graduated in 1947 from Climax High School. She thereafter attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN majoring in music, but the stars would have other plans for her when she met her future husband, Jerome Hamre, one summer evening when the carnival came to Nielsville. They were married June 10, 1950, at Salem Lutheran Church in Buxton where she was a member. After marriage, Shirley and Jerome set up a house on the family farm near Beltrami.
The community quickly recognized Shirley’s musical talents as she taught piano lessons and became church organist and musical director at Scandia Lutheran Church. Shirley organized dozens of Christmas programs and events over the years throughout the community (her biggest event was at the Fertile Bicentennial Fair where she directed over 350 choir participants), as well as accompanying on the piano many other singing groups and soloists, putting her own “spin” on the arrangements (which ended up being quite the unique production). Shirley was also known for playing the organ at hundreds of weddings and was always willing to travel to other states to do so. In addition to perfect pitch and reading music well, she could play the piano by ear and transpose to any key without effort at all. She loved to have family and friends sing around the piano and could play any song that was requested.
Shirley and Jerome raised five sons on the farm, Larry, Brent, Randy, Kevin, and Blake, and, of course, the four oldest had to become a boy’s quartet, singing for many church functions, county fairs, conventions, and other events, including a first-prize winning free trip to NYC and Washington DC.
At their winter home in Mesa, Shirley started a community chorus with as many as 125 singers who gave many performances over the years. She was also very involved with their church there and would fill in directing the choir and being the church accompanist. Her biggest joy in life was entertaining the many friends and family who came to visit. They eventually moved back to Fertile full time where Shirley began struggling with dementia. They moved to Fair Meadow Nursing Home where Jerome passed in 2014, after which Shirley moved to a memory care facility in Erskine and ultimately Thief River Falls.
Shirley is survived by her brothers Marlyn, Loren, and Vern Wegge; sons Larry, Brent, Randy, Kevin, and Blake Hamre and their spouses; five grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her brother, Lyndell Wegge.
A private family service will take place this summer, at the wishes of the family.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.eriksonvikfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
