Shirley Markkula

Shirley Ann (Van Norman) Markkula was born in Windom on July 2, 1938, she was the third of seven children born to Orville & Adona (Baird) Van Norman. She was blessed with a beautiful soul, kind heart, gentle spirit, and a memorable smile with a “glass half full” attitude. On Sunday, December 14, 2025, she passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus amongst family.

Her family lived in Windom until she was about five years old, when they headed up to the Long Prairie area. As a young adult she set out to see the world, she made a trip down to Minneapolis to work. She worked at the Minneapolis Golf Course and Munsingwear.

In 1958 Shirley found herself young, unwed, and pregnant realizing she could not raise a child properly, she made the beautiful selfless decision to put her child up for adoption. She kept this decision close to her heart; this was a different time and came with shame. In 2023 she knew that to complete her puzzle of life she would need to tell her children, who all embraced her and her decision and set out on a mission to find her son. In early 2025 she was reunited with her son Gary and his family. The connection was immediate and the love was evident. She was fortunate to spend time with him and each week they took turns calling each other.

On a whim Shirley joined her roommate to a New Years Eve party and met her husband Jerry, this marriage was blessed for sixty years. They made their home in Minneapolis with their four children, Terri, Lori, Cindy, and Jerry II. Eventually moving out to Minnetonka to raise their family. Over the years Shirley & Jerry started a carpet store first in their home, moving it to Loretto and Becker. She oversaw the office/sales and he did the installation. They made a move to Sebeka for a few years and headed back down to Elk River, Big Lake, Becker, Rice and eventually retiring in Sebeka.

She was so proud of her family, her children and grandchildren and their families. Her great-grandchildren and her special little friends warmly referred to her as Grandma Gigi. She just beamed with pride with her warm smile when she was amongst family.

She rejoiced in making her prayer blankets and always put special thought into who the blanket was for and picked a fabric that was a match for the person. These last few years this really became one of the reasons she felt she was still here. She took immense pride hearing about how the prayer blankets were well loved.

Going to church, homemaker’s meetings, serving lunch at church funerals and the annual church bazaar were always something she enjoyed. She loved making the painted/stenciled chairs that were auctioned off at the annual church bazaar. She immensely appreciated time with her church family.

She was famous for her fudge and divinity she made for Christmas and had a knack for making Finnish flat bread.

She will be forever missed by her children Gary (Ruth Ann) Horns, Terri (Duane) Patnode, Lori (Gary) Thompson and Cindy (Morris) Benson; grandchildren Chris Horns, Abby Horns, Derek Patnode, Darin Patnode, Kyle Thompson and Brody Benson; great-grandchildren Milo, Zepherin, Cameron, Kayden, James, Hailey, Beckett, Trent and Cole.  Brothers Larry Van Norman, Dale (Deb) Van Norman and Bruce Van Norman. So many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family, and friends.

Preceding Shirley are her parents, father-in-law & mother-in- law, husband Jerry (2023), son Jerry II (2024) and three siblings Jean (2020), Gerald (2023), and Joy (2025), several brother in-laws and sister in-laws.

If memorials are desired, please consider contributing to St. Hubert’s Church.

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