Shirley Sass-Stuart Holm

Shirley Stuart (Sass) Holm died at her home on Sunday, November 12 at age 97. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Richard Ellis Holm, who died in 1968. Shirley and Richard were married on November 12, 1943. Shirley was also preceded in death by her sisters Judith Wahlberg and Barbara Cody. Shirley was the daughter of Harry and Evalyn Sass, of Austin, MN.
Shirley is survived by her sister Meredee Dahlgren, in Austin, MN; eight children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Children: Richard Stuart (Jane) Holm, Prentice; Lisa Ellis Holm, Prentice; Mary Ane Holm, Prentice; Kip Holm, Austin, Texas; Peter Allen Holm, St Paul, Minnesota; Kai Jason Holm, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Elizabeth Fair Holm, Minneapolis; and Reid Evan Holm, Austin, Texas. Grandchildren: Brent (Heather) Holm, Minnetonka, Minnesota; Sasha (Scott) Fenske, Kasson, Minnesota; Justin (Steph) Strow, Norway, Washington; Peter Strow, Juneau, Alaska; and Rachel Holm, Kaia Holm, and Annika Holm in Austin, Texas. Great-grandchildren: Zachary Fenske, Alex Fenske, and Sarah Jane Fenske in Kasson, Minnesota.
Shirley was born in Austin, Minnesota, and lived in nearby Rose Creek until the Holm family moved to Prentice in 1963. Shirley graduated from Austin High School in 1938. Following high school, she attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio; the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis; and the Minnesota School of Business. Prior to her marriage, Shirley worked at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota. Shirley loved animals, especially dogs and owned numerous dogs of different breeds throughout her life.
Shirley took a keen interest in nature. Favorite outdoor activities included gardening, hiking, biking, swimming, horseback riding, and skiing. She also learned to sail and bought a small sailboat to use on a nearby lake. Shirley loved books and read widely. Other indoor hobbies included sewing, knitting, weaving, cooking, painting, and baking for her family. She baked an estimated 7,000 loaves of bread during her baking career! Shirley enjoyed classical music and gave son Kai his first piano lessons, engendering Kai’s lifelong interest in music. She enjoyed traveling, and in 1972 spent four months traveling throughout Europe. Shirley also traveled in Mexico, Central America, and British Columbia, Canada.
The family would also like to extend a big thank you to hospice nurse Nicole Spacek for her kind words and support.
The family is planning a private memorial service for Shirley.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.heindlfuneralhome.com
The Heindl Funeral Home in Prentice assisted the family with arrangements.