Norma Gire

Norma Lorraine Shuley Gire, 98, died Friday, October 23, 2015, at the St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Funeral services will be on Monday, October 26, at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, Edinburg, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Edinburg. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Mrs. Gire was born July 15, 1917, to Ben and Anna Josefine Shuley in Edinburg, North Dakota. She attended Edinburg schools, graduating from Edinburg High School in 1934. She attended North Dakota Agricultural College in Fargo, where she studied home economics. In 1943 Norma married Lloyd Gire and settled with him on the farm where Lloyd had been born, three miles from the town of Edinburg. There they raised their two daughters and one son. When Lloyd retired from farming, they sold the farmstead and moved into Edinburg. After Lloyd's death in 2005, Norma continued to live in Edinburg until 2006, when she moved to Wahpeton, North Dakota, to live with her older daughter, Linda Gire Bailey, and Linda's husband, Colin Bailey. After six years as part of Linda and Colin's family and the welcoming Wahpeton community, Norma moved to the St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge, Minnesota, minutes away from Linda and Colin's home.

Norma loved learning throughout her life. An avid reader, she especially enjoyed books about American history. She sewed very well and made many of the dresses her daughters wore when they were young. French-knot rugs were a favorite craft.

Norma was an excellent cook. Good food, especially bread and sweets, gave her great satisfaction, both in the making and the eating.

Norma and Lloyd were lifelong members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edinburg, where both were very active. Norma found great strength and comfort in her Christian faith.

Survivors include daughters Linda (Colin) Bailey of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Ann Ellen (Bruce) Cole of Rockport, Maine; and son Mark (Mary) Gire of Novato, California. Her eight grandchildren are Sarah (Patrick) O'Toole, David Bailey, and Ann Bailey; Karin (Sean Trask) Cole, Jon Cole, and Linn Cole; Elizabeth (Ari Denison) Gire, and Ben Gire. Norma is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Ian and Emma O'Toole; Quinn and Juliet Bailey; Thomas and Nathan Trask; and Olivia Denison.

Norma was the ninth of ten children in her family. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were sisters Ivah Johnson, Effie Shuley, Blenda Monson, Wilma Laurhammer, Alice Ferguson, Nellie Elaine Monson, and Janet Maurice; and two brothers, Clifford Shuley and Victor Shuley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Edinburg, North Dakota.