Shirley Jean Christopherson, 81, died peacefully on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester where she resided for the past five years.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 23, at Christ United Methodist Church, 400 Fifth Ave. SW in Rochester with the Rev. Michael Wuehler officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens. Shirley Jean Copeman was born Dec. 4, 1929, to Glenn and Alvina (Henke) Copeman in rural Chery Grove, Minn. She graduated from Wykoff High School in 1947. On Oct. 20, 1948, she married Stanley Eugene Christopherson in Wykoff, Minn. She and her husband, who was in the military, spent four years in Sacrament, Calif., before returning to Wykoff, where they farmed for five years. They moved to Rochester in 1960, where her husband worked for IBM. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed working for the Mayo Clinic as a laboratory technician for 20 years. She retired in 1989. Shirley was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. She enjoyed working with ceramics, needlework and family camping trips. After retirement, she and Stanley enjoyed traveling in their motorhome. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and especially enjoyed spending time with her family, who will dearly miss her.

She is survived by her husband, Stanley; sons, Steven Chrisopherson (Marolee) of Rochester and Scott Christopherson (Cheryl) of Rochester; daughter, Sherry Wood (James) of Rochester; grandchildren, Brian, Joleen, Emily, Jonathan, Katie, Peter, Becky, Cassie, Jenna and Tessa; great-grandchildren, Riley, Nora, Samuel, Ian, Ava, Allie, Braden, and Bryce; brother, Jerry Copeman (Sharon) of Rochester; and a sister, Darlene Meyer (Marvin) of Spring Valley.

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant brother and a sister, Delone Schmidt.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home and an hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Mayo Clinic for Alzheimer research or to Christ United Methodist Church. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home 5421 Royal Place N.W. Rochester, MN. 507 289-3600, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.