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Shirley Marie Ochsner

MANKOTA, Minn. — Shirley Marie Ochsner died March 18, 2019.

A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held June 28, at 1 p.m., at Woodland Hills Chapel, Mankato, Minn., with Pastor Michelle Hargrave officiating.

Private interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park, Mankato.

The Ochsner Family will greet friends on Friday morning from 11:30 a.m., until the time of services, at Woodland Hills Funeral Home.

Shirley was born Sept. 22, 1928, in Hartington to Arthur and Ollie Mengshol. She was raised in a loving family. Shirley was named Hartington High School Valedictorian, in 1946. She matriculated at the University of Nebraska where she met Milton Ochsner, Sutton. They married at the First Congregational Church, Hartington, in 1948. Early in their careers, they taught or served in administration in rural Nebraska: Newman Grove, Ceresco and Wahoo, before settling into teaching at Wayne State College. In 1960, the Ochsners, which now included three children, accepted positions at Mankato State. Shirley sought advanced degrees while teaching and raising a family. Over the course of her professional life, Shirley served on the faculty of what is now known as Minnesota State University-Mankato, The University of Minnesota-Waseca, and Mankato East High School. In retirement, Shirley oversaw the furtherance of the Milton A. Ochsner Foundation Award (MSU). Shirley was a participant in, and an advocate of, life-long education.

Among many interests, Shirley enjoyed staying in touch with friends and family, reading, traveling, visiting museums, and bird watching. Over the years, Shirley was a member of Eastern Star, Alpha Chi Omega, Minnesota Education Association, United Methodist Women, P.E.O., Minnesota Historical Society, The University of Minnesota Arboretum and various alumni associations. She was a patron of the arts. Shirley wore “Cornhusker Red” on Saturdays throughout the football season.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Arthur and Howard, and her husband of 48 years, Milton.

She is survived by three children, Keith (Michele) Ochsner, Kaye Ochsner, and Kathleen (David) Sandvik; two grandchildren, Seth (Shannon) and Todd (Leeza); and two great-grandchildren, Theryn and Leto; and any old friends with whom she remained close.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to send memorials in her name to the following: Centenary United Methodist Church, Mankato, and the University of Minnesota Arboretum.

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