Shirley Cichy

Shirley Ann Backhus was born in Frederic, Wisconsin on April 10, 1929, the daughter of Henry and Adele (Hasher) Backhus. Her family farmed near Siren, Wisconsin until Shirley was starting school at which time they moved back to Minnesota to care for her maternal grandparents. Shirley was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John?s Lutheran Church in Mapleton, graduated from Mapleton High School and then married Christian Torgusen on July 5, 1947. The couple farmed near Easton and began raising a family. They lived in several other locations until Shirley settled her family of five near Garfield and later in Brandon so she could be near her parents and sister. Shirley enjoyed her years working at the Singer Sewing Center in Alexandria, for Arnie?s Dairy in Brandon, in the Alex Public Library and as a foster grandparent at the Brandon School. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed most of her kids? clothes and went on to do the same for grandkids. Shirley and Ervin had a couple of home-based businesses including Knit E-Z, using knitting machines, and also in sales with aloe vera products with SASCO. The last few years of her life she preferred to knit and crochet by hand in her recliner while she wasn?t playing cards or studying for her ?Finals? in the Bible. Shirley attended Chippewa Lutheran Church and was also proud to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #278 in honor of her husbands and sons. Shirley married Francis Haabala on December 23, 1968 and Ervin Cichy on November 26, 1975. Later Shirley moved into Alexandria to stay close to her sister. She enjoyed life at Bethel Manor and took part in the activities there. Shirley was very thankful to be a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and enjoyed doing some traveling and attending family and school events whenever possible through the years. Shirley died suddenly on February 26, 2012. She is survived by her sons, Richard (Rosemary) Torgusen, Elbow Lake, MN and Russell (Barbra) Torgusen, Port Lavaca TX; her daughter Cheryl (Jerry) Johnson, Evansville MN; eleven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, sister Marie Nokes, husbands, son Roy, daughter Sheila, granddaughter-in-law Lynette Fuchs Johnson and nephew Raymond Nokes. A funeral service is scheduled for 1:30 PM on March 3, 2012 with the Rev. Andrea Olson, officiating at the Bethany Home Chapel. Music will be provided Jan Holverson. Pallbearers will be grandchildren Shawn Green, John Johnson, Christopher Johnson, Theresa Johnson, Rebecca Torgusen, Melissa Torgusen, Arron Torgusen, Erik Torgusen, Deanna McGlothin, and Michelle Torgusen. Interment will be in the Finnish Apostolic Cemetery in Moe Township. Funeral arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Anderson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.