Shirley Rachey

Shirley Jean Rachey was born on July 3, 1941, in Dows, Iowa to Richard and Opal (Gardalen) Ross.  She was raised in Dows, Iowa until she was 16, when her family moved to a farm outside of Sauk Centre.  Shirley graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1959.

On May 16, 1960, Shirley was united in marriage to Gerald (Jerry) Rachey at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre.  For the first four years of marriage, they lived in California while Jerry was enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  The couple then moved back to Sauk Centre and were blessed with sons, Keith and Kevin.  Shirley stayed home and raised them until they were both school-aged.  For the next twenty-eight years, she was a cook in the Sauk Centre public school system until she retired at the age of 62.

During retirement, the couple liked to travel, take cruises, and spent the last ten winters in Arizona.  Shirley enjoyed cooking, shopping for good deals, gardening, crocheting, crafting and word puzzles.  Shirley was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 67.  Most important to Shirley, was her family and spending time with them.

Shirley died on Friday, June 18, 2021, at her home in Sauk Centre at the age of 79, under the care of Heartland Hospice.  She is survived by her loving husband, Jerry of Sauk Centre; sons, Keith (LuAnn) Rachey of Waconia and Kevin Rachey of Sauk Centre; grandchildren, Matthew (fiancé, Taylor Zupan) Rachey and Meagan Rachey; siblings, Carol (Dave) Doubrava of Sauk Centre, Ricky Ross of Sauk Centre, Randy (Sally) Ross of Sauk Centre, Luann (Dave) Bullock of Alexandria, and Rodney Ross of Sauk Centre; and many nieces and nephews.  Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Opal; and sister, Donna Bienusa.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, July 9,, 2021, from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Sauk Centre American Legion Club.  Interment was held at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley.  Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to Heartland Hospice Care (1257 2nd St. N., Sauk Rapids, MN 56379) or American Legion Post 67 (128 Main St S., Sauk Centre, MN 56378).