Shirley Elizabeth VonderHaar

Shirley Elizabeth VonderHaar was born on August 20, 1923 in Cushing, MN, the oldest of three children of Vern and Josie (Bredahl) Gish. Shirley attended grade school and high school in Little Falls. After graduating from Little Falls High School, Shirley attended business school; she then worked as an Army decoder at Camp Riley in Little Falls. Shirley married her high school sweetheart, Ray VonderHaar. They eloped on October 19, 1943 on a weekend when she was visiting him while being stationed in Joplin, MO during World War II. To this union eight children were born, the oldest being a boy and then seven girls. In 1960 the family moved to Alexandria, Minnesota. They purchased the Movie Theatre and Drive-In movie Theatre, working together as a family running the businesses. Shirley is known as a friendly, generous person and gracious hostess. She never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anybody. Family was very important to Shirley and she was always faithful and served them. She loved to see her grandchildren. After retirement, Shirley and Ray, wintered in Palm Springs, California. Even when traveling she would still keep up to date on what activities her grandchildren were doing; always expressing to them how proud she was of them. When Shirley was not busy with her family, She loved to shop especially for blouses and angels. She was a member of the Christian Mothers, she played in two different bridge clubs, including one that “Doesn’t even play bridge.” Shirley loved angels and they could be found all throughout her life and home. On Monday, July 13, 2015, at the age of 91, Shirley went and joined the other angels in heaven. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ray VonderHaar; Son, Mike VonderHaar; grandson, Jason Pankratz; brother, Donald Gish; brother-in-law, Bud Savage. She is survived by her children, Barbara Spray and husband, Steve, Cindy Pankratz and husband, Ron, Patti Jaeger, and husband, Frank, Annah “Shirley” Reid and husband, Mark, Nancy Monnier-Bruhn and husband, Scott Bruhn, Pam Lindquist and husband, Tom; Janice Geris and husband, Chuck, daughter-in-law, Pat VonderHaar; sister, Beverly Savage; sister-in-law, Barbara Ann Dessin; grandchildren, Todd VonderHaar and wife, Maria, Josh VonderHaar and wife, Leah, Zach VonderHaar, and wife, Sarah, Lisa Annis and husband, Jay, Jeffrey Pankratz and wife, Anna, Chad Jaeger and wife, Nicole, Karl Jaeger and wife, Dena, Shelly Moonen and husband, Justin, Josiah Reid and wife, Erica, Daniel Reid and wife, Rachel, Annah Joy Reid, Christopher Monnier and wife, Vân, Stephanie Farrell and husband, Court, Jake Lindquist and wife, Carrie, Amanda O’Donnell and husband, Ed, Jeremy Geris and wife, Sarah, Brock Geris, Ryan Geris, Ashley Johnson and husband, Garret; and 36 Great grandchildren; sister, Beverly Savage.

Shirley Elizabeth VonderHaar

August 20, 1923 - July 13, 2015