Shirley Mae Soper

Shirley M. Soper, 78 of Devils Lake, ND died on Saturday evening, September 24, 2005 at the Northwood Deaconess Health Center, Northwood, ND. Funeral Services for Shirley will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Harold Ovre will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Visitation on Thursday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral services. Serving as Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Dr. Thomas Corbett, Janet Garske, Winnie Tangen, Mae Soper, Betty Soper, Alyce Soper, Joyce Benson and Donnis Benson. Active Casket Bearers will be: Al Herda Jr., Gerald Bryn, Jim Cuthbert, Mark Soper, Steven Johnson, Dr. Michael Johnson, Richard Soper, Gary Soper and Jason Henke. Music will be provided by Tom Wade, Rev. Harold Ovre, Dara Bartels and Jody Ramsey, Vocalists and Lynda Pearson, Organist Shirley Mae Benson was born on August 20, 1927 at Ramsey, North Dakota, the daughter of William E. and Gunda (Bergeth) Benson Sr. She was baptized at the Norway Lutheran Church by Rev. K. Raftshol and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church by Rev. E.L. Rude. She attended country school and Devils Lake High School. Shirley was united in marriage to Donald E. Soper on February 5, 1945 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family. Shirley was employed at the Devils Lake Elks Club for 14 years and at the Devils Lake Drug Store for Duane and Glenn Engebretson. She also worked for a short time at Bell Drug. Donald died on February 4, 2005. Shirley was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the VFW Auxiliary. Shirley was a wonderful, devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and dear friend. She enjoyed making afghans and doilies and was a great seamstress. Shirley is survived by her Sons and Daughters-In-Law: Ronald and Berta (Ronning) Soper, Webster, ND Dwight and Mary (St. John) Soper, Waterloo, Iowa Larry and Darlene (Gilbertson) Soper, Woodstock, Georgia Daughter and Son-In-Law: Cynthia and Keith Myhre, Devils Lake Nine Grandchildren: Randy Soper, Dara (Soper) Bartels, Benjamin Garner, Michelle Soper, Samantha Soper, Kimberly Soper, Jeffrey Soper, Jody (Soper) Ramey and Jackie (Soper) Dunn. Seven Great Grandchildren Sisters: Grace (Jerome) Johnson, Fosston, Minnesota Yvonne (Charles) Woody, Gilbert, Arizona June Bryn Dorothy Cuthbert Sharon Henke all of Devils Lake, ND Brother: Richard (Donnis) Benson, Kalispell, Montana Sister-In-Law: Joyce Benson, Moorhead, Minnesota Many Nieces and Nephews also survive. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; grandson, Chad Soper; sisters, Alice Lorenson, Avis Anderson and Ethel Herda; brothers, William Benson Jr. and William Raymond in infancy. Friends may sign the on-line register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com