A graveside service for Shirley Miner, age 90, of Arnolds Park, was held Monday, October 5, 2020, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Estherville. Visitation was held Sunday, October 4th,at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.
Shirley Mae Miner passed away on September 29, 2020, in her home surrounded by family.
She was born in Webb, Iowa,on April, 22, 1930, to Edna and Elmer Oleson. She graduated from Milford High School with the class of 1947 and went on to pursue her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College, known today as University of Northern Iowa (UNI) and attended summer school in Greeley, Colorado. She was married to Eldon Charles Miner on April 18, 1954,in Estherville, Iowa.
She taught second grade in Spirit Lake for a year and then moved to Estherville and taught second grade for two years. She left teaching full time to raise her 4 children but continued teaching preschool part time as well as teaching the GED programs at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville and Emmetsburg, Iowa. In her later years, she worked as a teacher’s aid in Gruver, Iowa. Her teaching overflowed into her home life with her children and grandchildren, where she came up with “silly” ways to remember a certain math equation or quirky,off the wall ways to remember certain things. Music was always a passion of hers, and talented at it she was, with the voice of an angel! She enjoyed spending as much time during the summer months down on her dock, either in the water or working on her tan. She loved nothing more than spending time with and spoiling her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There was never a shortage of cookies, gum, or licorice (and of course, love)! She had such a positive/upbeat outlook on life, her sense of humor was one of a kind; love just radiated out of her.
Shewas preceded in death by: her parents, Edna and Elmer Oleson;husband, Eldon Miner;mother-in-law, Lydia Miner, andbrother, Norman Oleson.
Shirley is survived by her four children: Kay (Wes) Enderson,Shari (Dennis) Leach,Craig (Deb) Miner,and Doug (Lois) Miner. Thirteen grandchildren: Boston (Lexi) Miner,Shannon Bonnicksen,Brock (Kandice) Bonnicksen,Blake (Brittany) Bonnicksen,Keaton Leach,Chad Miner,Jessica Miner,Travis Miner,Dillon (Nikki) Miner,Derrick Miner,Dustin Miner,Doug Miner,and Ashley Miner. Ten great-grandchildren: Hunter Miner,Landon Miner,Cayden Loerzel,Cylee Loerzel,Kelli Bonnicksen,Blakely Bonnicksen,Eden Miner,Mia Mathes,Josee Miner,and Shyloh Miner. One great-great-grandchild, Ryder Miner.
She was a huge part of many lives and will be greatly missed by all.
Turner Jenness Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.