Cherie Shelstad

Anita "Cherie" Shelstad, 92, of Lake Lougee in the Crosslake/Merrifield Area, passed away Monday, September 20, 2010 at her home. Funeral Services are scheduled for 11 AM, Monday, September 27 at Crosslake Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Anderson. Friends are welcome to gather Sunday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter and one hour prior to services at church on Monday. Private interment will be at Pinewood Cemetery.

Cherie was a loving and dedicated wife to her husband, Jiggs for over seventy-one years. They met in 1937 and were married on Sept. 9, 1939.

Music, dancing, and holiday celebrations were activities that Cherie enjoyed going back to her early years growing up in northeast Minneapolis. This enthusiasm continued all through her life and into retirement when she was one of the original cast members and a long- time participant in Brainerd's annual production of the Geritol Frolics.

Motherhood was more than just a role for Cherie; it was a passion. Although she had many other interests, the center of her attention was always on her family: her husband, Jiggs, her five children and their spouses and significant others, her seven grandchildren, and her six great-grandchildren. All of them feel very fortunate to have been a part of her life.

In addition to her family, Cherie gave of herself to others by volunteering at the Brainerd library, the Brainerd and Baxter elementary schools, and many other community organizations.

Cherie thoroughly enjoyed organizing family gatherings at their southwest Minneapolis home, as well as their home on Lake Lougee in the Brainerd lakes area near Merrifield. Besides family, her retirement years included an active social life with many friends from The Crosslake Lutheran Church, The Sons of Norway, The Geritol Frolics, several senior citizen groups, and extended family and neighbors in her Lake Lougee community.

Cherie Shelstad (Mom, Grandma Cherie, Gma, Rie, Auntie Cherie) will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

Cherie will be sadly missed by her children, Jeff (Marcia, special friend) Shelstad, Bruce (Sarah) Shelstad, Dixon (Beth) Shelstad, Brad (Sandy) Shelstad, and Cyna (Mike) Swartout; seven grandchildren, Brooks, Brett, Beth, Riana, Emmett, Marit, and Mitch; and six great- grandchildren, Annika, Siri, Mikkel, Gracie, Jakson, and Charlotte.
Cherie was preceded in death by her parents, Emil and Hattie; sister, Fleur Pryor. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Youth of Crosslake Lutheran Church and Crosslake Lutheran Food Shelf.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.