Shirley Geving, 94, New England, died Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at the CHI St. Alexius, Dickinson. Shirley’s funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 13, 2017 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, New England, with Rev. Bruce Peterson officiating. Interment will take place at the Rainy Butte Cemetery, south of New England. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday.
Shirley Beth Bratten born August 14, 1922 on the family farm in Slope County, daughter of Knute and Alma (Balweber) Bratten. She was raised and educated in Slope County, graduated from New England High School. She went on to attend Dickinson State Teachers College where she received a degree in education.
She was united in marriage to Stanley Geving on December 29, 1943 at Pierce Congregational Church. They farmed in the New England area until 1955 when they decided to move to California and settled in Turlock. It was during this time that Shirley and Stanley became grape farmers. She substitute taught and then to help supplement their income she also worked many years as a bookkeeper, manager for a Dr.’s office, a custom cabinet company, a furniture store, and was still able to care for their four children. They also opened an antique shop in Turlock, operating “Geving’s Antiques.”
Shirley’s husband Stanley died in 1980 and following several years she returned to North Dakota, making Dickinson her home. While in Dickinson, she received a home nursing certificate to take care of homebound patients. She spent some time at The Evergreen prior to making St. Luke’s her new home following her 90th birthday.
St. Paul said in Romans 5 “Suffering produces perseverance: perseverance, character: and character, hope: and hope does not disappoint us because God’s Love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Shirley is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Ben) Harris-Jones and Rebecca (Gary) Hofer; daughter-in-law, Patricia Geving; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley; two sons, Steven and Rodney; father-in-law, Severt Geving; her parents; two brothers, Kennard (Kay) Bratten and Knute (Jean) Bratten; and sister, Eunice Klewin-Henanger.
