Shirley J. Soderlund, 83, Fertile, MN, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2022, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile.
Shirley was born on March 3, 1939, to Theodore (Ted) and Alice Johnson in Crookston, MN, and lived with her family in Maple Bay, MN, and Concord, CA.
Shirley graduated from Mentor High School in 1957 and graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in 1960. Shirley worked as a nurse in a clinic and as a hospice nurse.
Shirley married Gerald (Jerry) Soderlund on November 22, 1975, and became a mother of three children: Geri Lyn, Mark, and Alicia. She also became a farmer’s wife, driving truck, feeding a large family, and all the other things required of a farmer’s wife.
Shirley enjoyed gardening, sewing, quilting, embroidery, crafting Christmas decorations, baking, and reading. She also collected cookbooks and murder mysteries.
Shirley and Gerald shared a love of gardening, and both enrolled at the University of MN at Crookston, graduating with Horticulture degrees in 1985. While farming and attending college, they opened “Suddy’s Greenhouse,” which operated until the family farm was sold in 1986.
They moved to Detroit Lakes and worked together at Bergen’s Nursery. In 1989, they moved to Cottage Grove, MN where they both worked for Bailey’s Nursery until Gerald’s retirement in 2001. Moving back to Stephen, they enjoyed their retirement years.
Gerald and Shirley left Stephen to move into Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile in May of 2020. In September 2020, Gerald moved to Lilac Homes Memory Care in Dilworth, MN. Gerald passed away on October 22, 2021, at 90 years old. He and Shirley were married for 45 years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Alice Johnson of Maple Bay, MN.
Shirley is survived by her brother, Richard Johnson of Maple Bay, MN; sister, Janet (Johnson) Carlson of Minneapolis, MN; nieces, Teri Johnson and Stacie (Nick) Kronschnabel of Fertile, MN; great-niece, Ella Kronschnabel of Fertile, MN; stepdaughter, Geri (Mark) Fortney of Estero, FL (Beth, Sarah, Dana); stepson, Mark (Barbara) of Lakeville, MN (Paul, Elaine, Amanda, Carl); stepdaughter, Alicia (Wayne) Schultz of Red Lake Falls, MN (Melissa, Nicole); 12 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Joyce Nelson of Stephen, MN.
Special thanks to Hospice of the Red River Valley and Fair Meadow Nursing Home for loving care.
Memorials can be sent to Fair Meadow Nursing Home, 300 Garfield Avenue SE, Fertile, MN, 56540, or to Hospice of the Red River Valley https://www.hrrv.org/giving-back/
Funeral: 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.
Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the funeral home.
Interment: 4:00 PM, Saturday, June 18, 2022, at Stephen Cemetery, Stephen, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home
Fertile, Minnesota
