Shirley A. Holmes

Age 82 of Little Canada; Formerly Roseville and Duluth Shirley Holmes passed away in her sleep due to natural causes on January 5, 2019.  She was born Shirley Ann Mellesmoen on April 11, 1936 to Bennie and Clara Mellesmoen in Fosston, MN.   She was preceded in death by her parents Bennie and Clara; brothers Clayton, Arvid, and Glenn; infant daughter Susan; and Roger Holmes.  She is survived by her children Kristin (Carl) Schroeder, Bradley (Joy) Holmes, Gregory (Shawn) Holmes; grandchildren Kate, Marie, Natalie, Casey and Alexander; sister Patricia Wunderlich; many nieces and nephews; and beloved friends.  She was a proud Denfeld High School graduate who went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from the University of Minnesota and spent her first years as an English and Social Studies teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools. She briefly worked for Douglas and Ramsey Counties as a Social Worker before and after core years as a stay at home mother to Kristin, Brad, and Greg. She moved on to the Mounds View district where she was a junior and senior high English and History teacher.  Shirley’s next adventure took her to World of Leisure Travel for more than four years as a Tour Researcher and Planner. Back to the education sector, she was the Adult Enrichment Coordinator at Fairview Community Center in Roseville for 6 years where she formed many enduring friendships. She proudly completed her Master’s Degree in Education Technology from St. Thomas University and applied this knowledge to a ten-year computer consulting career with TIES (Teaching Innovations for Education Systems). Her last job was as a Consultant in the Education Technology Department with St.Paul Public Schools. Shirley will be remembered for her love of the outdoors (gardening, skating, skiing, canoeing, camping, hunting, and fishing); her time with the Girl Scouts of St. Croix Valley Council (Troop Leader and Organizer, Adult Training Coordinator, and Service Unit Chair for the Summit University Area); her volunteer and outreach work (Galilee Lutheran Church Outreach, Education, and Hmong Resettlement Committees; Meals on Wheels program); excursions to music and theater productions with her friends; her trips to New Zealand and Norway (travel and her Norwegian Heritage); her enormous pride and love for her grandchildren and making Norwegian Christmas cookies with them; a passion for baking, reading, sewing, theater, music, family and friends – her sense of humor, warm heart, and kind smile.  Special memories include her tradition of celebrating the first tulip of Spring with a popsicle; her desire to see Disney movies with her grandkids; barbecuing on the deck; lilacs and gardening at Bayview. Funeral 11 AM Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Galilee Lutheran Church, 145 McCarrons Blvd N, Roseville, MN 55113 with visitation beginning at 10 AM. Lunch to follow. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery.