Shirley Lavanger Obituary Biography Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Passed away on March 28th. Born March 4, 1927 in Fertile, MN. She is survived by her husband of 64 years Allen, three sons, Eric (Jaimie), Peter (Leilani) and Tim (Peggy), eight grandchildren, Hadley (Lucas) Wilcox, David, Anna, Julia, Matthew, Ryan, Eric and Kiley, one great-grandson, Sullivan Wilcox along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Julia Viker as well as her brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. After graduating from Concordia College (Moorhead) in 1949, she taught school in Montana before marrying Dad and embarking on the journey of raising three sons, two of whom were often a bit of a challenge. She prevailed, however, with a great sense of humor and a sense of adventure. While being paid as a teacher for only a short time, Mom created opportunities for us to learn about the world around us. Exploring museums, historic sites and nature- particularly at the family cabin on Deer Lake, she practiced lifelong learning without us realizing it as we were having so much fun. Having survived raising three boys, she enjoyed her role as grandmother; grandma Shirley and her grandchildren had wonderful times together making memories for a lifetime. The first robin seen in the spring, lilacs blooming, the ever changing colors of the lake, the laughter of loons and daisies growing along the side of a road were all cherished by Mom; and will continue to be cherished by all who knew and loved her. Funeral service Friday, April 1 at 11 AM at the Glory of Christ Lutheran Church, 4040 Highway 101 in Plymouth. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service. Private interment at Groveland Cemetery. Memorials preferred to MN Landscape Arboretum, the Guide Dog Foundation or The Lutheran Hour Ministries. Facts Born: March 4, 1927 Death: March 28, 2016