Shirley Ann Savaloja

Shirley Ann (Erckenbrack) Savaloja, 93, of Deerwood passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 23, 2024.  She was born in Wadena to Guy and Sophia (Von Engeln) Erckenbrack on July 17, 1930.  She was 12th in a family of 14 children.  Recently she had been living with her daughter Linda, in Deerwood.  Shirley attended and graduated from Wadena High School.  The fondest memories of school were cheerleading and working at the Dairy Bar.  She met Harold in October of 1951, after a short courtship they married on February 24, 1952.  They were married for 61 years and were blessed with seven children.  The family moved from Wadena to Deerwood.  In October of 1963 they moved to Serpent Lake where they celebrated every holiday with family and many 4th of July reunions.  Being a wife, mother and grandmother was a full-time job which she embraced and exceeded at.

Preceding Shirley in death are her parents; her husband, Harold in 2013; sons, Terry, Mark and John; son-in-law, Bruce “Bud” Nelson; nine brothers, Robert, Wallace, Vernon, Clyde, Victor, Harvey, Donald Cleon, and Guy; four sisters, Luella, Ellen, Gladys and Lois.

Shirley will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by one son, Bruce of Wamego, Kansas; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda Nelson of Deerwood, Cathy (John) Vidmar of Buffalo and Peggy (Dale) Rosier of Grand Rapids; daughter-in-law, Ginny Savaloja of Trommald; sister-in-law, Pat Savaloja of Orangevale, CA; 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Koop Funeral Home on Saturday. A reception will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Crosby until 3:00 p.m. Burial will be at the Scandia Cemetery in Deerwood.