The Funeral Service for Shirley A. Olson of rural Hayward, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Hayward Lutheran Church. The Rev. Katie Fick will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, and one hour before the service at the church.

Shirley died at her home on Sunday, Sept., 26, 2010. She was 74.

She was born on June 9, 1936, in Freeborn County the daughter of Lloyd and Hazel (Breamer) Gill. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1954. She was united in marriage to Richard P. Olson on July 8, 1955. Together Shirley and Richard worked on the farm, moving to the Gill home farm in 1965, where she resided until her death. In addition to her helping on the farm and in the shop with Richard, Shirley had also worked for Queen Stove for 13 years and then Mrs. Gerry’s Kitchen for 12 years before retiring.

Shirley worked very hard before and after her retirement until her health failed. Yet she always made time to lend a helping hand or an ear with a cup of coffee or a good meal at her table. Shirley was a kind, gracious fun loving person. She was a member of Hayward Lutheran Church and she depended on her strong Christian faith and faced life’s challenges with admirable determination and patience. Formerly she enjoyed day trips with good friends, baking gardening, and working outside. Later she would spend time reading, doing crossword puzzles and visiting with friends and family.

She is survived by her daughter Pat Olson of rural Hayward; grandchildren: Joe Ware of rural Hayward, Sarah Ware, Melissa Ware and Jeff Olson of Cheyenne, Wyo.;great-grandchildren: Angel, Gabriel and Katie; brother, Harold (Gale) Gill, of Winter Springs, Fla., sisters: Lois (Ralph) Stevens of Aitken and Mary Oman of Albert Lea; several niece and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Richard, in 2001; and her brother, Don Gill.

Loving memories of Shirley will remain in a special place within all of our hearts.