Shirley Busse of Thief River Falls, MN, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN officiated by Reverend Thomas Puffe. Burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN. Visitation will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church beginning at 9:00 AM on Saturday until the time of the service.

Shirley Jean Almquist was born on November 18, 1929, at home in Black River Township, MN, to Jens and Signe (Brink) Almquist, the youngest of eight children. She was baptized and confirmed at Tarna (Swedish) Lutheran Church and attended school in St. Hilaire, MN before graduating from Lincoln High School in 1948.

On June 11, 1952, she was united in marriage to Norman Busse at First Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN. The couple made their home in Thief River Falls, MN where they spent their entire lives. As a devout member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Shirley sang in the choir. She worked at F.W. Woolworth's Five-and-Dime, was bookkeeper for Norm's Repair, and sold Avon for more than 30 years, becoming a member of the President's Club and earning several prestigious Avon Mrs. Albee Awards.

Shirley always had a green thumb and had a beautiful flower garden. She also enjoyed fishing at Lake of the Woods, baking cookies, and playing cards, Yahtzee, and Farkle. Another favorite hobby of Shirley's was embroidery as well as weaving rugs on her loom. Her love for dogs was well-known, as was her love for garage saling. Be it spending hours visiting the sales of others or hosting several of her own each year, you could always find Shirley enjoying a garage sale.

Shirley is survived by her husband Norman of 70 years; daughter Sheila (Brian) Ranum of Spring Lake Park, MN; grandchildren Baily Jo (Clint) Kempf of Elko New Market, MN; Jorde (Danielle) Ranum of Arvada, CO; brother Basil (Senora) Almquist of Cummings, ND; several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; infant twin daughters Jean and Jane;  siblings Laura (Frank) Durman; Edna (Clarence) Carlson; Vera (Jake) Fehr; Alton (Constance) Almquist; Woodrow (Verda) Almquist; Olive (Ray) Durman.

Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com