Shirley Ann Finley

Shirley Ann Finley, age 86, of Fargo, ND, died Sunday, March 19, 2023, at Fargo Elim Health Care.

Shirley Ann Sundberg was born November 18, 1936, at New Rockford, ND, the daughter of Ferdinand “Ferd” and Margit (Myhre) Sundberg.  She grew up there and graduated NRHS in 1954.   On February 27, 1955, Shirley was united in marriage to Wilbur “Bill” Finley in First Lutheran Church, New Rockford.   They lived in several states while Bill was serving in the US Air Force, including Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Alaska, and Maine.  Following his discharge, they lived 2 years at Devils Lake, ND.  They then lived in Lafayette, Indiana for a time, for Bill to attend college.  When they moved back to North Dakota, they lived in Rugby for 27 years, where together they operated Finley Flying Service.   Shirley and Bill moved to Grand Forks, where Shirley was a vendor representative for Hallmark Cards while Bill flew for FedEx.   During several winters, they lived in Arizona and Florida.   They moved to Minot, ND and lived there 9 years, then moved to Alexandria, MN, where they also lived for 9 years, and most recently to Fargo. 

Shirley and Bill have been members of Lutheran churches in all of the places they have lived, and one of the first priorities when they moved to a new place was for Shirley to find “a good church” for them.   While in Rugby, she was church choir director, and sang at many weddings and funerals.  She was also active in the community theatre productions at Rugby.    When asked for her occupation, she replied, “I am proud to say I was a wife, mother, and homemaker”.

Shirley is survived by her husband Bill, 3 children: Randy (Lauri), Fargo, Daniel (Sherry), Port St. Lucie, FL, and Cindi (Bob) Mintie, Minot; 8 grandchildren: Jeremiah (Corissa) Finley, Nicole (Greg) Krueger, Mathew (Jennifer) Finley, Beth (Yorgi) Campos-Finley, Jacey (Lex) Lindbo, Ryan Finley, Brent Finley, and Hope Finley; 13 great-grandchildren: Thatcher, Liam, and McKenna Finley, Jovey, Fionn, and Tully Finley, Ledger Krueger, Will Lindbo, Mikayla, Marisol, and Jordan Campos-Finley, Preston and Collin Finley; two brothers, Bob (Linda) Sundberg, Minot, ND,  Paul (Mary Ann) Sundberg, Colorado Springs, CO; one sister Julie (Fred) Korker, Port St. Lucie, FL; and one sister-in-law Janet Sundberg Bartz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Beverly Frazer, brother Gary Sundberg, and nephew Michael Sundberg.

Funeral Service:   Friday, March 24, 2023, at 2 pm in West Funeral Home, West Fargo, ND, with Visitation held one hour prior to her service.

Interment:  Monday, March 27, 2023 in Fargo National Cemetery, rural Harwood, ND

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