Shirley Willard

WEBSTER – Shirley Willard, 90 of Webster and formerly of Waubay died on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at her home in Webster. Her funeral will be at 10:30 A.M. Monday, May 18, 2015 at Ortley Free Lutheran Church in Ortley, Rev. Michael Peterson will officiate. Inurnment will be at a later date at Lakewood Cemetery, Waubay. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday 5-7 P.M. and prior to services on Monday. Shirley Adeline Lorenson was born on October 26, 1924 to Charles and Bolida (Johnson) Lorenson at Webster, South Dakota. The family lived near Butler and as a young child the family moved to a farm near Pickerel Lake. She was baptized and confirmed at Saron Lutheran Church near Roslyn. She attended country school and graduated from Waubay High School. After high school she attended Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen and received her teaching certificate and taught country schools in the area. On March 22, 1945 she was united in marriage to Lawrence Willard at Watertown, South Dakota. After their marriage the couple lived and farmed in several locations including north of Ortley, south of Waubay and near Enemy Swim Lake and in 1961 they moved to a farm south of Waubay. In 1968 they moved Seattle, Washington where she did house cleaning and worked at a daycare. They returned to Waubay in 1972 where she worked at Waubay School as a teacher’s aide until retirement in 1994. Shirley enjoyed working with the students and had great memories from those years. Lawrence passed away in 1996. After his death she continued to live in Waubay until 1999 when she moved to Webster. She was a member of Ortley Free Lutheran Church and was a member of the U.M.F. Lawrence and Shirley loved square dancing, attending many square dancing events in the area as well as Square Dance conventions in different states., they also enjoyed traveling around the U.S. with her sister’s and brothers-in-laws.. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and loved to read. Shirley had a green thumb for gardening and always had a beautiful garden. She also belonged to the Waubay Tuesday Club. She leaves her loving memories to be cherished by her two sons, Larry Willard of Waubay, SD and David Willard of Elbow Lake, MN; one daughter, Sandy (Eddie) Hinze of Waubay, SD; five grandchildren, Karla Hinze of Fargo, ND, Darrin (Jennifer) Hinze of Fargo, ND, Misti (Troy) Gilbertson of Waubay, SD; Daniel (Witney) Willard of Elbow Lake, MN and Megan Willard of Fargo, ND; 13 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter-in-law, Judy, a grandson, Miles and 10 brothers and sisters.