Shirley Kruger, 80, passed away at Bethany on University, Fargo, on February 17, 2019. The funeral service for Shirley will be held at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Valley City on Monday, February 25, 2019 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be at the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home, Sunday, February 24 from 1:00-3:00 PM with a prayer service beginning at 3:00 PM. Burial will be in the Stiklestad Cemetery, rural Ft. Ransom, ND in the spring.
Shirley Joanne Carlblom was born July 13, 1938, to Henry and Ethel (Hendrickson) Carlblom. Ethel passed away when Shirley was very young. Her father remarried and she was raised by Henry and Lucy (Holweg) Carlblom. Shirley grew up in Ft. Ransom, ND, and graduated from Ft. Ransom High School in 1956. She went to work in Fargo, ND and was employed at the Manchester Cookie Factory.
On June 29, 1956, she married James F. Kruger at Stiklestad Lutheran Church, Ft. Ransom. They made their home in Valley City, ND. She worked alongside Jim and ran the office at their business, Jim’s Auto Repair. Later, she spent many years at KOVC radio station, where she was an advertising representative.
In September of 2014, Jim and Shirley renewed their wedding vows. They made their home in Rogers, ND. He passed away December 31, 2017.
She was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Valley City, as well as the Eagles Auxiliary. She enjoyed doing unique crafts, ceramics, reading, and tending her flower gardens. Shirley cherished time spent with her family and friends. She was devoted to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Shirley is survived by her daughters, Susan (Jon) Strang of Valley City, ND and Sherri (Brian) Koslofsky of Maple Lake, MN; grandchildren, Joshua Landis (Katelynn Rebel), Jonathan (Sarah) Strang, Angela Lasater, Kyle Strang, Joel Strang, Ryan (Jamie) Koslofsky, and Ally (Brodie) Barrows; great grandchildren, Kendyl, Jaelyn, and Kollyn Landis; Emersyn Strang; Theo Koslofsky and Silas Barrows; her brother, Leland (Barbara) Carlblom of Gibsonia, PA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ted (Marvel) Kruger of Lisbon, ND, and Ann (Fred) Kraft of Enderlin, ND; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home is assisting Shirley’s family with arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.lerudschuldt.com