Shirley H. Youngner
October 9, 2025
Shirley Hope Youngner passed away peacefully at Good Shepherd Community Home in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota on October 9, 2025, at the age of 100 years, and 356 days.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud on November 17th at 11am. Arrangements are being made through Benson Funeral Home in St. Cloud.
Shirley was born on October 18, 1924, in Cameron, Wisconsin to George and Odie Anderson, and spent most of her time growing up at her uncle’s farm two miles away. She married Philip Youngner of Nelson, Minnesota on May 27, 1947, and lived most of her adult life in St. Cloud. She was active in her church community. Shirely was secretary/treasurer for Sunday School for 15 years, worked on numerous committees at church, made quilts for missions for over 40 years, and furnished and served food for the unhoused. Among many other things, she was an avid supporter of Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria, MN, and served on several committees there. Shirley worked on the Red Cross Bloodmobile for over 12 years whenever they had a blood drive in St. Cloud. She also had time for her children’s activities, being a mother as well as a Bluebirds/Campfire Girls leader for 6 years, then a Mississippi Ripples 4-H club leader for 14 years, also volunteering at the Sherburne County fair. If any child in the 4-H club wanted to take on a project, and there was no adult leader, she signed up and read up about it.
She is survived by her sister, Beatrice Score; children, Linda (David) Krueger, Dan (Lynn) Youngner, Ruth (Roger) Poutanen, and Susan (Peter) Buckley; eight grandchildren, and seventeen great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Phillip Youngner; brother, Kenneth Anderson; uncle, Edwin Romsos, and granddaughter, Kierstin Youngner.
Memorials may be sent to Luther Crest Bible Camp, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, or the American Red Cross. Continuing her life of service, she has donated her body to Mayo Clinic, where, as she said, “I will be teaching anatomy to future doctors.”