Shirley Lavonne Berquist

life story

A lovely lady who loved to cook and golf, and sew and golf, entertain and laugh and have fun!

Shirley Lavonne Berquist died peacefully Aug. 24, 2020 in Coon Rapids at age 90.

She was married to Lloyd Berquist for 51 years who passed away in Jan. 2005. Shirley and Lloyd moved to Aitkin in 1956 which they called home for over 65 years. They ran the State Farm Insurance office for more than 30 years in Aitkin.

She is survived by two sons, Ward (Christine) Berquist, Bloomington and Jeff (Julie) Berquist, Silver Bay, Minnesota; and one daughter, Karin (Greg) Janzen, Andover, Minnesota. There are five grandchildren that all miss their red-headed, green-eyed grandmother greatly: Eric Berquist, Jill Berquist, Adam Berquist, Robert Berquist, Lucas Janzen, and great-grandson Eli Dennie.

Shirley was born May 1, 1930 near Norbeck, South Dakota to Stephen and Lois Stephenson, the second of four children. When she was four-years-old, her family moved to Merrifield and later to Brainerd, where she graduated from high school. Shirley and Lloyd met in Crosby and were married in Deerwood on Nov. 7, 1953. They moved to Aitkin in the spring of 1956 which they believed was the best place in the world to raise a family. She truly enjoyed her life there until medical issues took her away.

Shirley was very active helping Lloyd with his State Farm Insurance business, United Methodist Church, Sweet Adeline’s, Cuyuna Country Club and many craft clubs with her close friends for life. The family would like to thank Park River Estates Care Center staff for their dedicated and loving care she was given in the last two and a half years.