Shirley Verschaetse

Shirley Ann Verschaetse was born to Anna (Stassen) and William Boerboom on June 20, 1929 in Ghent. She attended grade school in Ghent and graduated from Marshall High School. Shirley was united in marriage to Kenneth Verschaetse on August 20, 1951. This union was blessed with five children. Shirley was a lifelong resident of Ghent with the exception of the two years they lived in Alaska while Ken served in the U.S. Air Force. She had a musical gift playing the piano beautifully by ear, and as a young adult formed a trio with her brothers Harold and Bill. They performed around the state and at one time were the opening act for the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. Shirley loved to cook and bake and used this talent while catering events at Don’s Ballroom and lunches at St. Eloi School. She adored her grandchildren and attended their many activities. Shirley enjoyed spending time at the cabin with family and friends, playing cards and shopping trips with “the ladies”. She loved nothing better than a great joke and a good laugh. She also enjoyed traveling, especially coordinating bus trips with her friends to various destinations. Shirley’s unfailing faith in God provided comfort and strength to her throughout her life. Shirley died on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall. Preceding Shirley in death were her mother Anna, father Bill, two sisters; Margaret Fox and Agnes Busch and three brothers; Richard, Bill and Don Boerboom. Survivors include husband Ken, of Ghent, four sons Terry (and Cindy) of Marshall, Bill (and Judy) of Alexandria, Tim (and Ruth) of Faribault, Randy (and Lisa) of New Ulm, and daughter Mary (and Dan) Van Hauwaert of Marshall; ten grandchildren Bailey, Madi, Kristin, Nathan, Paul, Joe, and Sam Verschaetse, Alissa Salvato (Chris) and Ethan and Kaylee VanHauwaert; two great-grandchildren Alex and Ben Salvato, brother Harold (and Pat) Boerboom of Glenwood , sister Dorothy (and Howard) Bromen of Marshall and many nieces and nephews.