Shirley Faye Strand age 91 of Marshall, formerly of Tracy, passed away on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Morningside Heights in Marshall. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 1 at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 31 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Tracy Area Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to services at church on Thursday. Interment is in the Tracy City Cemetery. Memorials will be shared with the local services for the blind, Hospice and the Tracy United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Shirley Faye (Lussenhop) Strand was born on August 31, 1926 in Redwood Falls, MN to Rose Augusta (Diekmeier) and William Albert Lussenhop. She was baptized and confirmed in the Morton Methodist Church. Shirley attended Redwood County country schools for eight years. She graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1944 as class salutatorian.
On December 3, 1948, she and Donald Wayne (Bud) Strand were united in marriage at the Methodist Church in Redwood Falls. They made their home in Redwood Falls before moving to Tracy, MN in 1953, where they worked and raised their eight children. Shirley worked at various jobs during her lifetime, remaining employed well past the age of eighty. Prior to her marriage to Bud, she worked in a law office, an unemployment office and for an insurance agent. After her marriage to Bud, Shirley worked for the Tracy Savings and Loan, the Marshall Turkey Plant and as a waitress. In 1968, she and Bud purchased and operated Shirley’s Café for eight years. In 1974, they purchased the Mobil Bulk Plant and she worked as the bookkeeper. After she retired, Shirley remained actively employed working in the school lunch program and for HSI Rehabilitation Services. She had a strong work ethic, enjoying going to work and being with people.
As a life-long member of the Tracy United Methodist Church, Shirley served on various church circles and committees. She was also a member of Tracy Eagles Auxiliary and the Tracy Legion Auxiliary serving as an officer for most of her sixty years of membership. Shirley enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending her time reading, gardening, knitting, sewing, making crafts and relaxing at the lake.
Shirley is survived by her children: Dwayne (Rita) Strand of Chanhassen, Vickie (Steven) Larson of Sioux Falls, Randy (Lisa) Strand of Adrian, Terry (Carol) Strand of Tracy, Barbara (Richard) Visker of Pipestone, Bradley (Toni) Strand of Lynd, Kelli (Brian) Gerry of Sioux Falls and son-in-law Jerry Howe; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald ‘Bud’; her daughter, Linda Howe; her parents, William and Rose Lussenhop; her sister, Eileen (died in infancy); and her sister and brother-in-law, Iva and Willis Kessler.
Blessed be her memory.