Shirley Nappe

Shirley Larson Nappe passed away October 3, 2018, at Serenity Assisted Living in Dilworth, MN, surrounded by her children.

She was born May 15, 1927, at Ada, MN, to Roy and Mildred (Holte) Larson, of Mahnomen, MN.  She was the oldest of 4 girls.  She graduated from Mahnomen High School in 1945.  She married Odean Nappe on June 8, 1945 and lived near Mahnomen for 30 years, after which they moved to Merced, CA.  Shirley worked in a large daycare there and went to college at night, receiving her degree in Early Childhood Education.  At her graduation ceremony she also received the Outstanding Student Award.  They moved back to Moorhead in 1983 due to Odean’s disability, so she started her own daycare.  After that they moved to Felton for a few years, then to Glyndon where they lived since 1992. In April 2018, she moved to Serenity Assisted Living and loved her new home and the many friends she made while there.

Shirley went to Germany in 2006 to visit Todd, her son, and his family, who was stationed in the Air Force.  It was at that time she and Todd flew to Norway to see the Nappe homeland and ancestors, a great highlight in her life, and a place her father-in-law had always wanted to return to, but never did.

She has traveled many places with her children and grandchildren and loved spending time with everyone.  Family was most important to her.

Shirley has been involved in the DGF 1^st grade since 2006 and known as “Grandma Shirley” to all who passed through the 1^st grade doors.  She looked forward to going there each day she worked.  Shirley loved working with the church ladies in quilting and Circle plus, of course, the elementary 1^st grade at DGF.

Odean passed away in July 2005, 6 weeks after their 60^th wedding anniversary.

Shirley was in an amateur contest at Flom, MN, in 1937, put on by WDAY of Fargo, winning 1^st prize of $10.00 by singing.  She was 11 years old, but they thought she was 7.  Her dad had gone to Fargo and bought a small guitar and wanted Shirley to learn to play, which she did.  Her dad had a violin, so they used to play together a lot.  Shirley still has that guitar, which has to be over 80 years old now, and it is a special keepsake.

She is survived by her children, Sharon Lowman, of Sedalia, MO; Carol Busse, of Moorhead; Cindy (Steve) Griesert, of Faribault, MN; Todd (Diana) of Warrensburg, MO; Troy (Lori), of Moorhead, Tami (Steve) Kazeck, of Rochester, MN; and Tracy (Todd) Tollefson, of Glyndon, MN. Also, 26 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren, and sisters, Betty Dickson, of Moorhead and Myrna (Basil) Mielke, of Detroit Lakes, MN.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Odean, her daughter, Kim Spaeth, her sister, Janice Hall and her nephew, Richard Dickson.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 7, 2018, from 3:00 to 4:00 P.M., followed by the funeral service at 4:00 P.M., at Glyndon Lutheran Church, Glyndon, MN. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Glyndon.