Shirley Olive Lundeby

Shirley Lundeby passed away on January 29, 2022, in Brainerd, Minnesota at the age of 92. Shirley was born on April 7, 1929, in Brainerd to Laverne and Clara (Erickson) Frisch. She attended the Brainerd rural school district and graduated from Washington High School in 1947.
Shirley was a lifelong teacher and learner. She began her teaching career in Staples on the strength of her two-year teaching degree, taking the train to get back and forth, and teaching there her first year. She then taught at Pine Center Elementary school from 1966 to 1983. While at Pine Center, she completed her bachelor’s degree in 1973, by attending summer school yearly while still working as a teacher. In 1983, she moved to Baxter Elementary School, where she taught until she retired in 1989.
Shirley married her childhood sweetheart Melvin (Mel) Lundeby on June 7, 1951, in Brainerd and together they had four children, living on their self-built family homestead, Acorn Acres, in rural Brainerd.
She loved giving to others, as a Title 1 teacher for special needs students, a Sunday school teacher, a maker of school kits for children in need, a participant in the Grandparents’ Program at Garfield, and as a tutor at Brainerd Community College. And there was always a fresh cake or bars for friends when they stopped in.
Shirley was an accomplished seamstress, baker and hearty cook. Together with Mel, she traveled, camped, pontooned, fished, and square-danced up a storm. She loved a party and being surrounded by her ever-growing clan of kids, grandkids and great grandkids, who adored her. She was a lifetime member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where she formed many lifelong friendships.
Shirley is survived by her children; Michael (Elizabeth Petrangelo) Minneapolis, Barry (Betty) of Marshalltown, IA, Bruce (Peggy) of Fort Collins, CO, and Laurel (Warren) Hanlon, Bloomington, ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren, and brother Raymond Frisch and sister Mary Ann Frisch, both of Brainerd.
She was preceded in death by her husband; Melvin Lundeby and her parents.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 4, 2022, at 11:00am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd. Visitation will be Thursday, February 3, 2022, from 4:00 – 7:00pm at Halvorson-Taylor Funeral Home in Brainerd and one hour prior to the services on Friday, at the church.
Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Lutheran Building Foundation.

Family being served by:
Halvorson-Taylor Funeral and Cremation Care
Brainerd 218-829-3581