Shirley Larson

Shirley passed from this life on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at The Waters of Plymouth. She was born to Nellie and Donald Stroud of Mabel, MN on February 16, 1932. Shirley grew up on a farm near Mabel and graduated from Mabel High School in 1950. She then attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for a year. She finished her RN degree at Methodist-Kahler in Rochester, MN. Shirley married the love of her life, Orlin Larson, in 1954. Shirley enjoyed telling everyone they went together since kindergarten.

Orlin and Shirley began their married life in Austin, MN. Austin was where their four children were born and raised until 1968 when they moved to Rochester, MN. In 1977 they moved to Blue Earth, MN. Shirley worked various jobs to help support their family while being a devoted wife and mother. After retirement, Shirley and Orlin spent several winters in Arizona. They moved back to Rochester in 2010. Over the years they enjoyed traveling and camping in their pop-up camper, visiting forty-nine states. They also enjoyed several trips with friends and family to various countries in Europe. A church family was always important to Shirley as she was involved in various Bible studies and Women's Groups in the Methodist churches of the towns where they lived. Shirley enjoyed baking. Family and friends loved her chocolate chip cookies, pies, and lefse. Shirley was a loving and devoted caregiver for Orlin in his final years suffering with Alzheimer's.

Preceding Shirley in death, were her parents, her husband in 2017, her sisters Virginia McConnell, Barb McCann, and Cindy Stroud, her grandson Kris Zweifel, and great-granddaughter Kylie Byer. Also preceding her were her brothers-in-law Elden Larson and Duane Larson.

Shirley is survived by her children: Brenda (Harry) Johnson, Bovey, MN, Karen (Mark) Byer, Prior Lake, MN, Kent (Leah) Larson, Maple Grove, MN, and Janeen (Joseph) Steffel, Minnetonka, MN, her brother, Dale (Mary) Stroud, Eden Prairie, MN; as well as her grandchildren Emily Steffel, Bitsy (Mike) Grossman, Anna (Josh) Streich, Michael (Ting) Wohlrabe, Patrick (Ericka) Byer, Spencer Loyd, Spencer Larson, Zach (Angely) Loyd, and Bennett Larson; great-grandchildren: Leighton, Andelyn, Dexter, Ziggy, Evelyn, Jamison, Nadia, Vayda, Beckett, Marley, Addison, Zoey, Zeke, and Mateo. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Neil Larson and sisters-in-law Judy (Lawrence) Fruechte and Joan (Steve) Eynard and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Ranfranz Funeral Home, Rochester, MN on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Visitation will be at 1:00 P.M. until the start of the funeral service at 2:00 P.M.

The family would like to thank the staff, at The Homestead in Rochester, MN, The Waters of Plymouth, MN as well as Brighton Hospice, for their wonderful care of Shirley.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Larson family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.