Ringdahl, Shirley Jean (Cocker) 1929-2007
RINGDAHL, COCKER, RAIN, LEMBKE, INGVALSON, DOLLEY, JOHNSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/22/2012 at 09:30:28
Shirley J. Ringdahl, age 77, of Decorah, Iowa, died Sunday evening, October 7, 2007 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah by Rev. Matthew Perkins, with burial in Phelps Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Fjelstul Funeral Home and after 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at the church.
Shirley Jean Ringdahl was born November 13, 1929 on the family farm near Pilot Mound, Minnesota, the daughter of Rex and Esther (Rain) Cocker. She attended a one room country school during her elementary years and graduated from Chatfield, Minnesota High School with the Class of 1948. She attended Luther College in Decorah from 1948-1950 and earned her teaching certificate. She continued attending Luther part time in the evenings and summer until she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1976.
Shirley was united in marriage with Kenneth Wayne Ringdahl on July 31, 1953 at the Lutheran Church in Pilot Mound, Minnesota. This union was blessed with two daughters: Jean and Lynn.
Shirley began her teaching career in Utica, Minnesota in a one room school house and later taught at Oak Hill/ Bloomfield #3 school in Castalia; Pleasant Hill School near Big Canoe Church and the Knoke School in rural Decorah. In 1965 she started teaching third grade at the North Winneshiek School and retired in 1992 as a second grade teacher. She also served as a custodian at Decorah Bank and Trust from 1968-2007. Since her retirement, she has volunteered at John Cline Elementary School as a reading and math tutor for first grade students.
She was an active member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah and the Petra Circle. Her other membership included the Winneshiek County Retired School Personnel and she served as the secretary of the group for many years; Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International; and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary in Decorah. Shirley’s hobby was sending cards and notes to everyone, even people she did not know personally. She enjoyed clipping articles out of the newspaper and sending them along with a congratulatory note. She was very civic minded and attended just about every community activity and concert.
Survivors include her two daughters, Jean and her husband Charles Lembke of New Hampton, IA, Lynn and her husband Larry Ingvalson of Decorah; two grandchildren, Kent and Kayla Ingvalson; a sister, Inez and her husband Cloyd Dolley of Decorah; a niece, Barbara and her husband Doug Johnson and their son Samuel of Decorah; two nephews, Virgil and his wife Amy Dolley of Cedar Rapids and Jed and his wife Shelly Dolley of Decorah; and a wealth of friends and former students that mourn her passing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth on December 23, 1985; and her parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the American Cancer Society, c/o 801 Clearview Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101; Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101; Congregational United Church of Christ, 209 West Broadway Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101 or the fund to establish the Shirley Ringdahl memorial scholarship, c/o Decorah Bank and Trust, 202 E. Water Street, Decorah, Iowa 52101.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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