Shirley Alford

Shirley Genevieve (Johnson) Alford passed away January 2, 2023 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 89.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, January 6, 2023 at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo, with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Interment will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery in Granite Falls.

Shirley was born on May 21, 1933 in Stony Run Township in Yellow Medicine County to Sylvin C. And Olga M. (Solem) Johnson.  She was baptized in 1933 at Granite Falls Lutheran and attended Granite Falls Schools.  She was united in marriage to Ralph Alford on February 12, 1980 in Ocala, FL.  Shirley moved to Montevideo following her husband’s death in 1987 to care for her mother.

Shirley was a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo.  In her younger years she enjoyed attending family and school reunions, area church dinners, baking, reading, gardening and visiting her cousins.  She was fascinated with biographies of famous people, including the Kennedys and Marilyn Monroe.  She also enjoyed watching Oprah.  She was especially fond of birds, cats and dogs and had many pets over the years.  Shirley had a sweet disposition and loved to visit over a cup of coffee.  She always had a smile and a friendly greeting for everyone she met.  She rarely complained and if she did it was never mean spirited; it just wasn’t in her.  Shirley did not have an easy life, but she was grateful for what she had and for the people in her life who cared for her.

Shirley is survived by several cousins, and a niece Michele Johnson.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Darold Johnson, sister-in-law Judith Johnson, uncles, aunts, cousins and her beloved dog Willy in 2006.

Blessed be her memory.