Funeral services for Shirley M. (Nielsen) Christensen of Albert Lea will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Baptist Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Mark Miller will officiate.  Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Thursday. Bonnerup Funeral Service is assisting the family with arrangements.

Shirley died on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. She was 89.

She was born on June 10, 1925, in Sherburn, the daughter of Holger N. and Katherine (Lorensen) Nielsen.

When Shirley was in fourth grade, the family moved to Albert Lea, and she graduated from Albert Lea High School.

She married Donald C. Christensen on Aug. 3, 1946, at Calvary Baptist Church in Albert Lea.

Before having her family, Shirley worked at Johnson Laundry , JCPenney and Queen Stoves.

Throughout her life Shirley enjoyed being active at Calvary Baptist Church. Some of her activities included Church Women’s group, floral committee and volunteering in the kitchen.

Shirley especially appreciated time spent with family, a highlight being the annual family fishing trip.

Socializing was a favorite pastime, as well as playing cards and cooking and baking for others, which brought her much joy.

Shirley is survived by her children Rod (Sandi) Christensen of Hayward, Jay “Buck” (Cheryl) Christensen of Albert Lea, Julie Faugstad of Buffalo Center, Iowa, and Janice McIntyre and fiancé, Mark Whitman, of Osseo, Wis.; grandchildren Angie Christensen of White Bear Lake, Krista Stillings of Minneapolis, Thackery (Laurianne) Faugstad of Rochester, Valerie Faugstad and Calvin Faugstad of Buffalo Center, Amy (Kyle) Slifka of Hawaii and Brooke McIntyre of Eau Claire, Wis.; great-grandchildren Dylan Sleik and Beowulf, Thor and Uriah Faugstad; sisters Virginia Fiscus of Iowa Falls, Iowa, and LuAnn Aman of Albert Lea; brother, Robert (Donna) Nielsen of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law Karen Nielsen of Albert Lea and Verlane Kittleson of Minneapolis; and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald; brothers Kenneth Nielsen and his wife, Mary, Richard Nielsen and his wife, Eleanor, Marvin Nielsen and his wife, Louise (Bunny), Paul Nielsen and Steven Nielsen; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law Cleo Fiscus, Marvin Whiteside, Thomas Aman and Lois and Orville Bjerke; and special friend, Paul Seadlund.

Shirley will be remembered as a very loving and prayerful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed.