Shirley Martha (Dollinger) FLEMING HALVERSON

DOLLINGER, FLEMING, LANGE, HALVERSON, BRUNES, BORQUEZ, BROWN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/19/2011 at 12:26:32

August 5, 1930 --- June 16, 2011

BELMOND, IA - Shirley M. (Dollinger) Fleming Halverson, age 80, of Belmond, Iowa, a native of St. Paul, Minn., died Thursday June 16, 2011, at the Rehabiliation Center of Belmond. Funeral services will be held June 20, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, six miles west of Belmond. The Rev. James Harbaugh will be officiating. Burial will be in the St. Olaf Church Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 2-4 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Monday.

Shirley Martha Dollinger, the daughter of Charlie and Bertha (Lange) Dollinger was born Aug. 5, 1930, in St. Paul, Minn. In her childhood, she was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and continued her Lutheran faith throughout her entire life. Shirley attended St. Paul Community Schools and graduated from Washington High School, St. Paul, Minn. Shirley was united in marriage to Richard W. Fleming on August 6, 1949, and to this union three children were born, LuAnn, Christine and Michael. Shirley and Richard were married 30 plus years before eventually getting divorced. She had lived for a time in Iron Mountain, Michigan, St. Paul, Minn., Denver, Colo., and several other Western states. Shirley was employed in the banking profession in various roles including teller and clerk, also a bookkeeper in several different companies.
Shirley was known by many as an excellent seamstress who lovingly handcrafted many beautiful wedding dresses and other clothing for her family. Her attention to detail and mind for design created many beautiful works. Truly the primary focus of Shirley's life was the needs and wants of her family. She would always put their needs before those of her own regardless of how big or small the need might be. Her role as a loving and nurturing mother was the most important devotion in her life. Shirley enjoyed traveling. Her children and their families reflect fondly on various trips to California and other Western states. Many of these adventures included camping in the family's fold-down tent on wheels towed behind the pink and black Rambler station wagon. Shirley was an avid reader and enjoyed music. She had a meticulously organized library of books and musical collections. She enjoyed animals and was especially fond of her cats and dogs throughout her life. She enjoyed visiting with others, shopping excursions and anything that included times spent with her family. During her years in St. Paul she was an active member of St. Mathews Lutheran Church in St. Paul and St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, Minn.

She retired and moved to Belmond several years ago and was married to Garfield "Gus" Halverson, on August 26, 2000, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Belmond. During their time together Shirley and Gus enjoyed traveling, dining out, and spending time in the company of one another. The couple made their home on a farm in rural Kanawha before moving to Belmond in 2007. Gus preceded Shirley in death in January of 2009. Shirley continued to enjoy her time living in their Belmond home until recently spending time at the Rehabilitation Center following injuries from an accidental fall.

Shirley's legacy and life will continue to be carried on in the lives of her surviving children, LuAnn (Steve) Brunes, Belmond, Iowa, Christine (John) Borquez, Thornton, Colo., Michael Fleming, Denver, Colo; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great-great-granchild and her nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Bertha Dollinger, her sister Delores Brown, infant sister, Ruth and her second husband Garfield "Gus" Halverson. Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
June 19, 2011