Shirley (Olson) Bosch

Shirley Bosch, age 88, of Atwater, passed into the arms of angels surrounded by family on Friday, September 8, 2023.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 22, at the United Methodist Church in Willmar.  Interment will be at Cloverleaf Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 21, at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday.  Memorials are preferred to Salvation Army of Willmar, Habitat for Humanity, Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center, or Planned Parenthood.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org.

Shirley was born May 17, 1935, in Willmar, Minnesota, the daughter of Harry and Ruth (Mattson) Olson.  She grew up in Willmar and was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church.  She graduated from Willmar High School in 1953 as valedictorian. Following graduation, she worked for Bell Telephone Company and later worked as the personal secretary for Earl B. Olson of Jennie-O.   On April 3, 1954, she married Roland Edwin Bosch at the United Methodist Church in Willmar, and they made their home on the Bosch family farm near Atwater.

Before there was a term for non-traditional students, she embarked on a path to obtain her college education.   She earned her BA degree in Social Work, Sociology, and Family and Life Education from the College of St. Benedict in 1972 and completed graduate work through the University of Minnesota.  After obtaining her degree, she worked as a social worker for Kandiyohi County Family Service for many years until her retirement and also taught at the College of St. Benedict.  She remained a fervent “life-long learner”.  She was a member of several study groups, book clubs, professional associations, and community groups, and was especially active with the Salvation Army and the United Way.  She was named 1986 Woman of the Year by the Willmar Area Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Shirley was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Willmar, where she was active on numerous committees, prayer groups and sang in the choir.  She loved classical music, opera, theater, spending time on the North Shore, and spending as much time as possible with family and friends.

She is survived by two children: Jay (and Linnae) Bosch of Atwater and Dr. Heidi (and Fred) Street of Zimmerman; four grandchildren: Aaron (and Kim) Bosch, Matthew Bosch (and Greg Higgins), Hilary Street-Scott (and Joseph Scott) and Molly Street; three great-granddaughters: Madelynn, Sydney Kailani, and Maisie Pumehana; a brother: John Olson; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Roland in 2020; a brother: James Olson; and a sister: Grace Taylor.

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