General Information
Full Name: Irene Fiihr
Date of Birth: June 30, 1923
Date of Death: October 8, 2012
Irene’s life story
Irene Elsie Fiihr
Born on Saturday, June 30, 1923 in Elkton, South Dakota, Irene Elsie was born to parents Henry and Elsie (Bolte) Blum. She was the oldest of eight children. Irene’s childhood years were spent attending grade school in Ward and Elkton, South Dakota and also George, Iowa.
On Wednesday, March 12, 1941, Irene married George Albert Fiihr in Orange City, Iowa. During World War II, the family stayed with her parents. After the war, Irene and George farmed northeast of Bruce, South Dakota for 18 years. In 1964, the family moved northwest of Bruce. As a family and throughout the years, they all worked side by side tending to the daily chores on the family beef farm.
Most of her working years were spent as a housewife and caring for her children. She was a dedicated wife and loved her children very much. After George passed on April 20, 1977, Irene worked sewing coats at a factory in Estelline, SD, for the next three years. Sewing gave her great pleasure. She held various other housekeeping jobs along the way.
A love for gardening, Irene spent countless hours in her ¾ acre vegetable garden. She grew just about everything, from potatoes, carrots, pumpkins and squash, just to name a few. In her free time, Irene enjoyed spending time in her flower gardens, fishing, sewing and teaching Sunday school. But her biggest passion in life was caring for her children. She loved to spend time watching her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren grow up.
A loving, caring and good hearted wife, mother and grandmother, Irene will always will be remembered for all the hard work throughout her life. A Shakopee resident, Irene was 89 old when she passed away peacefully on the early afternoon of Monday, October 8, 2012 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, MN.
Forever loved, Irene will be deeply missed by her children, Delbert (Ileen) Fiihr of Shakopee, LaDean (Wayne) Olson of Shakopee, Darrel (Karrye) Fiihr of Shakopee, LuJean Fiihr of Shakopee, Doug Fiihr of Shakopee; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Verna Eccles of Illinois; many other loving relatives and friends.
Irene is preceded in death by her parents; husband, George Fiihr; son, Richard Gene Fiihr; 1 grandson; 3 brothers and 3 sisters.
Pall bearers for Irene will be John Fiihr, Jeff Lipinski, Nick Tschida, Troy Wall, Jay Anderson and Lewis Fiihr.
The Christian Funeral will be on Friday, October 12 at 10 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service all at Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church 12700 Marystown Road, Shakopee. Pastor Mark L. Schwertfeger will officiate. Irene will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery in Estelline, South Dakota.
The Fiihr family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Shakopee Chapel.
Visitation
When: Friday, October 12, 2012, 9 till 10 AM
Location: Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church
Address: 12700 Marystown Road
Shakopee, MN 55379
Service Information
When: Friday, October 12, 2012, 10 AM
Location: Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church
Address: 12700 Marystown Road
Shakopee, MN 55379
Interment Information
Location: Hillcrest Cemetery
Address: Estelline, South Dakota
