Shirley Nysveen

Shirley Nysveen passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023, at Sanford Medical Center in Hillsboro.

Shirley Ann Forster was born September 22, 1934, to Agnes (Haaland) and Grover Forster, in St. Michael’s Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. She was an only child and spent many a summer out at the Forster family farm playing and helping her father.

She attended school in Hillsboro, ND and graduated from Hillsboro High School. She attended Mayville Teachers College (later Mayville State University) and earned her Associate Degree in Education.

In 1953 she married Duane Nysveen, and they moved to the Forster family farm in 1955 and farmed there until 1992 when they retired. They continued to live on the farm until their deaths.

They raised four girls, Candice (Monroe), Julie (Flatland), Nancy (Bollingberg), and Jennifer.

Shirley’s guiding principle was the Homemakers Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.

Through the years besides being a farm wife and mother to four girls, she was an active member of Norway Church until its closing in 2012 and then Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, and The Good Intention Homemakers club for 65 years. (She was already planning the Christmas party activity and prizes.)

Shirley was a 4-H Leader, teacher aid at Hillsboro Elementary, sold insurance for AAL/Thrivent, and owned a craft store, Crafters Cove, located in the basement of Olson Hardware.

During retirement, mom and dad loved to travel, stay active in church, try new recipes (especially breads), and as the years passed quilt for World Relief, Dakota Boys Ranch, and the YWCA. Donating over 1,700 quilts.

Since 1998 she was an active member of the Traill County Historical Society holding the role of president for many years. Preserving history was one of Shirley’s passions. The Plummer House Extravaganza was something she loved preparing for every year. It was very important to her that we all knew our heritage, but also helped keep history alive for everyone. She was very proud of her Scottish and Norwegian heritage and shared that with her family through stories and of course food.

Mom and Dad had a close marriage and you rarely saw one without the other. Therefore, the time after his passing was lonely for her, but she had their cat, Oskar, as her companion.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Duane, brothers-in-law Jerome and Myron Nysveen and Robert Woods; sisters-in-law Pat (Orella) Woods and Aagot Nysveen; and nephews Shawn Nysveen and Richard Woods.

She is survived by four daughters; Candy (Les) Monroe, Hillsboro, Julie (Jeff) Flatland, Fargo, N.D., Nancy (Eric) Bollingberg, Fessenden, N.D., and Jennifer Nysveen, Fargo; her grandchildren, Jonelle (Bryan) Thoene, Fordyce, Neb., Jelsa (Ricky) Pallay, Fargo, John Bollingberg (friend Katie Flaig), Fessenden, Signe Edison, Fargo, Anneliese Nysveen, Fargo, Anthony Nysveen, Baltimore, Md.; and five great-grandchildren, and her sister-in law, Lorna Nysveen.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 2:00PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hillsboro –with visitation one hour prior.

BURIAL: Monday, October 23, 2023, 10:00AM Norway Lutheran Church Cemetery near Cummings, ND

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Wildeman-Boulger Funeral Home in Hillsboro, ND. To sign the online guest book, please visit our website at www.boulgerfuneralhome.com