Shirley Mae Larsen, age 95, of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of Wolsey, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at Sanford Foundation Cottage in Sioux Falls surrounded by her family.

Her funeral service will be at 10:30 am, Saturday, March 17th at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wolsey with interment following at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, March 16th at Welter Funeral Home in Huron and continue one-hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Saturday.

Shirley Mae Shoar, daughter of Melville and Mabel (Haraldson) Shoar was born on June 29, 1922 in Bemidji, Minnesota. She grew up and attended school in Oakes, North Dakota and then attended St. Luke's Nursing School in Aberdeen for three years.

While in nursing school, Shirley was set up on a blind date which would lead to 72 years of marriage. Shirley married Fred T. Larsen in Washington D.C. on September 9, 1944 while Fred was serving in the US Navy as a Lieutenant in the European and Pacific Theaters during World War II.  In 1946 they returned to Wolsey, where Fred was a dairy farmer. Shirley was a dedicated farmwife raising their five children. She enjoyed cooking and gardening.  After retiring from the farm, Fred and Shirley moved to Marion to be closer to their family and later Sioux Falls.

Shirley was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Wolsey Lion's Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Wolsey Senior Center, Happy Homemakers Club, Lutheran Women's Missionary League. Shirley was also the organist and choir director at St. John's for many years.

She is survived by her children; David (Betty) Larsen, Rancho Cordova, CA, Gregory (Nancy) Larsen, Marion, Kent (Barbara) Larsen, Sioux Falls, Susan Larsen, Sioux Falls; ten grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren and her brother Tom Shoar of Napa, CA.

She was preceded in death by her spouse of 72 years, Fred; son, Frederick (Ted), her parents; siblings; M.H. Shoar, Russel Shoar, Carol (Norris) Stenstadvold, and Betty (Milo) Bresley.