Shirley Wilhelmina Clements

SHIRLEY WILHEMINA CLEMENTS

December 9, 1935 – July 1, 2019

                Shirley Wilhemina Clements, age 83 of Detroit Lakes, MN, formerly of Snellman, MN peacefully passed from this life to eternal life on Monday, July 1^st, 2019 at the Oak Crossing Care Center in Detroit Lakes with her loved ones at her side.

                Shirley was born on December 9, 1935 in Shell Lake Township., near Snellman, MN to William and Mary (Longfors) Pihlaja.  She attended the District # 82 Country School near her home and earned her high school graduation through the Park Rapids High School.  As a young woman, Shirley ventured to Chicago, IL where she gained employment with the McCrae Manufacturing Company.  On June 8, 1957, Shirley was united in marriage to Crawford “Clem” Clements of Georgia.  They raised 6 children: Barbara, Janice, Wanda, Yvonne, Tim, and Heidi.  In 1962, Shirley and her family moved from Chicago to the Snellman area where they purchased a resort on Shell Lake which they renamed “Clem’s Resort” and owned and operated until 1975. Shirley also began driving bus for the Anderson Bus Company of Frazee,  while she and Clem were operating the resort. After retiring from driving bus for over 16 years, Shirley began working at St. Mary’s Nursing Home (now Oak Crossing) in Detroit Lakes. She enjoyed her caregiving work there until retiring in the mid-1990s.  She and Clem continued making their home on Shell Lake until the time of Clem’s death in 1988.  Shirley then moved into Detroit Lakes.  She was a lifetime member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman where she had been confirmed and was an active member all her life.  She was also an active member of the Wolf Lake VFW Post # 8165 Auxiliary.  For a number of years, Shirley raced Arctic Cat snowmobiles and won many trophies during her racing career.  She was a gifted athlete who pitched softball in the Park Rapids Softball League where she played with the Sullinger Softball Team and won many championships.  Throughout the years, Shirley enjoyed working outside in the fields putting up hay and milking cows.  She loved to hunt deer and fish with family and friends.  She was a competitive card player who entertained many evening card parties at her home.  She was also a wonderful cook and baker and was famous for her delicious potato salad.  She will be long remembered for providing caregiving through community service by delivering meals on wheels or driving many elderly folks to their doctor’s appointments.  Her heart was full of compassion for those in need.  Above all, she will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family.

                She is lovingly remembered by her six children: Barbara Pachel of Park Rapids, Janice Clements of Borrego Springs, CA, Wanda (Danny) Osborne of Reno, Nevada, Yvonne (Arlen) Kangas of Osage, Tim (Jenny) Clements of Osage, and Heidi Zick of Osage; 13 dearly loved grandchildren; 12 precious great-grandchildren and two sweet great great-granddaughters; her sister, Nora (Delbert) Saarinen of Detroit Lakes, MN; her brother, Roland (Darlene) Pihlaja of Osage; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

                Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Clem; four sisters:  Thelma, Verna, Mildred, and Evie; one brother, Harold and three sons-in-law: Larry Pachel, Kenneth Newton, Sr. and John Zick.

                Services will be held 11 AM Monday, July 8, 2019, at the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman with Rev. Carlton Kangas and Rev. Scott Muehlberg officiating.  The organist will be Sue Zick.  Urn bearers will be her grandchildren.  Interment will be made next to her husband in the Clements family plot in the Snellman Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM Sunday evening with a prayer service at 7 PM at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and will continue at the church on Monday beginning one hour prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church, The Snellman Cemetery Association, the Oak Crossing Family foundation or the Hospice of the Red River Valley.  To leave online condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com