Shirley Whitten

Shirley (Palmer) Whitten was born on August 11, 1922, to Kenneth and Lillian (Miller) Palmer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Washburn High School and the University of Minnesota. She enjoyed swimming, tennis, cross-country skiing, sailing, sewing, gardening, reading, traveling, and bridge. In the time left over from her busy life, she gave back to her community with volunteer work in school, church, and hospitals.

But she most loved and was devoted to her family; they were dear to her heart. She was delighted with her children and considered that raising them (along with her husband Bob) her life’s best  accomplishments.

Her husband’s business took them to Libertyville, IL and later to East Lansing, MI, where they lived for thirty years before returning to Minnesota.

Shirley lived her life in service to others; she is greatly missed by her family and her many friends.

Shirley died on Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at Bethany on the Lake in Alexandria at the age of 95.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Robert; by her parents, a brother-in-law, and many of her in-laws. She is survived by her children; Barbara, of Colorado Springs, Robert Jr. (Delia) of Ely, MN, John of Warwick, ND, Elizabeth (Gerald Kolter) Danielson of Sandstone, MN, and David (Jane) of Sarasota, FL. Eight grandchildren; Rebecca (Tyler) Ross, Benjamin, Penelope Morgan, Jacob (Emily) Morgan, Dana (Derek) Banovetz, Tory, Jack, and Nathan. Four great-grandchildren; Abigail, Emma, Caeten, and Finnegan Ross. Sister Sally (Clayton) Gardner, and her children; Thomas Lokensgard, Nancy Carlson, and Dick Lokensgard. Sister in-law June Garrison and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM on Friday, June 8, 2018, at the First Congregational U.C.C. in Alexandria.  Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Memorials are preferred to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy (1201 15th St. NW, Suite 420, Washington D.C. 20005) or the Douglas County Library in Alexandria.