Shirley Mae (Maxson) Leth, 86

Published 10:34 am Monday, November 18, 2013

Shirley Mae (Maxson) Leth, 86, passed away on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at Cottagewood Senior Communities (formerly Sunrise Cottages) in Rochester, Minn., with her loving family by her side.

Leath

Shirley was born on May 1, 1927, to Peters and Edna (Berg) Maxson in Mantorville, Minn. She attended Mantorville area schools and married Darrel “Doc” Leth on April 1, 1944, in Mantorville. They farmed in Milton Township, rural Mantorville, where they raised their family. Shirley was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and especially enjoyed being a member of Bethel Circle.

Shirley was an avid bowler and served as the League Secretary and Association Secretary for the Rochester Women’s Bowling Association and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service in 2005. She loved spending time with her family and attending their activities. Her other interests include knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sewing, gardening, and attending Birthday Club and Homemakers.

Shirley is survived by her children, Jean Burke, of Austin, Minn.; Dale (Linda) Leth, of Mantorville; Dave (Rhonda) Leth, of Mantorville; Janice (John) Patterson, of Kasson, Minn.; Dan (Jody) Leth, of Marietta, Ga.; Jane Fjerstad, of Kasson; JoEllen (Randy Schwake) Smith, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; Jill (Al) Horstmann, of Rochester; 41 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim (Colleen) Maxson, of Mantorville; and Richard (Corrine) Maxson, of Omaha, Neb.; a brother-in-law, Don Lohrbach, of Mantorville; a sister-in-law, Leona Blatti, of Kasson; and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Darrel; a daughter, Jacqueline; her parents; a sister, RoseMarie Lohrbach; and two son-in-laws, Anthony Burke and Joseph Smith.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 Eighth Ave. NW in Kasson, with Rev. Randy Fett officiating.  Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Church and also an hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kasson.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be directed to the family for distribution to Season’s Hospice, the American Cancer Society, the Alzheimer’s Foundation or donor’s choice. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the care and compassion shown to their mother by the entire staff at Season’s Hospice and Cottagewood Senior Community.