Shirley Sorvig

Shirley Sorvig, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 19, 2025, surrounded by her six loving children at Oakland Park Communities in Thief River Falls.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 PM with a 6:30 PM prayer service on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with the service to celebrate Shirley's life at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor Kevin MacLean officiating. The burial will be at Black River Cemetery.
Live Stream: https://youtube.com/live/OrrTtq8q7k0
Shirley Mae Kruse was born December 26, 1929, in Thief River Falls, MN the daughter of Christian John Francis and Mabel Alvera (Ekstrom) Kruse. She was baptized and confirmed at Saint Hilaire Mission Covenant Church. She attended Country Schools 94 and 180, often walking or by horse and sleigh, about 2+ miles. Then St. Hilaire School from 4th -8th grade, graduating from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls with the class of 1947.
After high school Shirley worked at the Woolworth Store and St. Luke's Hospital in Thief River Falls for a short time.
On September 2, 1949, Shirley was united in marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Robert Sorvig. They were married at the Mission Covenant Church in St. Hilaire, MN and made their home on the Sorvig family farm in Polk Centre Township of Pennington County. To this union six children were born, Ronald, Debra, Scott, Steve, Mark and Carol.
Due to Robert's National Guard Fox Company 136th Infantry Regiment being mobilized, Shirley and their infant son, Ron followed him to Camp Rucker, Alabama where they lived until Bob was Honorably Discharged in 1952. They moved to Hibbing, MN where Bob worked as a truck driver in the iron mines. In 1953 they returned to the Sorvig family farm where Bob and Shirley raised their family.
Shirley was active at Black River Lutheran Church as Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School, Release Time teacher, Christian Community Youth Group Leader, also Lutheran Church Women both in local group and on District and Synod Boards. She enjoyed working with 4-H and Homemakers Clubs and Cancer Drives. Shirley worked with Christian Women's organization since it started in Thief River Falls. Later years she attended the Evangelical Free Church in Thief River Falls and enjoyed the work and fellowship of the Berean Senior Group.
Shirley loved swimming, boating, being on or around any water, canning, gardening, picking juneberries, making juneberry pie & cranberry sauce, and was famous for her bread and cookies, which everyone loved, especially her grandkids. She would never miss a family reunion; and she especially enjoyed "Christmas In September" with her family at Hiawatha Resort on Leech Lake. Her greatest love was to gather her family and friends for food and fellowship. She could be described as a quiet strong force and a woman who truly lived her faith. People who knew Shirley felt reassured when she said that she was going to pray for someone, they knew she meant it and did it.
Survivors include her loving children Ronald (Mary) Sorvig of Hawley, MN, Debra (Juan) Pedraza of Crookston, MN, Robert Scott (Dorinda) Sorvig of rural Red Lake Falls, Steven (Roxane) Sorvig of St. Hilaire, MN, Mark Sorvig of rural Red Lake Falls, MN and Carol (Tim) Olson of Grand Forks, ND; fourteen grandchildren, Ryan (Amy) Sorvig, Derek (Ashley) Toliver, Andrew (Lauren) Toliver, Kristin (Garett) Toliver Fralix, Robert (Erin) Luke Sorvig, Joshua (Jocelyn) Sorvig, Matthew (Kelsey) Sorvig, Leah (fiancé, Jacob Minnick) Sorvig, Aaron (Kristin) Sorvig, Nate (Lisa) Sorvig, Tyson (Lexi Rodriguez) Sorvig, Keenan (Daytona) Sorvig, Jacob (Abby) Olson, and Svea (Mason) Benefield; great grandchildren Ava, Macy, Teagan, Atley, Mia, Brooks, Sienna, Rhea, Lila, Mae, Eden, Ethan, Robert, Charlotte, Madalyn, Josephine, Delilah, Hadley, Henry, Naomi, & one on the way, Beckham, Lauren, Elin, Christian, Freya, Thayden, Tayla, Mikael, Kellan, Afton, and Manning; sisters-in-law Joan Strong and Claudia Sorvig; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband Robert in 2011; parents; sister Darlene (John) Carpenter; father and mother-in-law Alfred and Lilly Sorvig; brothers and sisters-in-law, Evelyn (Don) Radzak, David Sorvig, Raymond (Eileen) Sorvig; great grandchild Kinley; and many other relatives and friends.
In Lieu of flowers, please give gifts to Salvation Army, KFNW Christian Radio, Samaritan's Purse, American Cancer Society or charity of your choice.