Flekke, Shirley Jean Age 84, of Plymouth, formerly of New Brighton, passed away Dec. 3, 2018. Preceded in death by her husband, Donald; son, David and brother, Christian Bangert. Survived by sons, Glenn (Patti) and Gregg (Denise); granddaughter, Anna Jean; and many nieces and nephews. Shirley grew up on a small farm in what was rural St. Anthony in the 1930s and '40s, enjoying rides on her horse, Tony. Grade school education was at a one-room school house and graduation from Edison High School in 1952. She and her husband Donald Flekke raised two sons in New Brighton throughout the 1960s and '70s, enjoying 59 years of marriage. After Donald's retirement, Shirley was a strong role model when she chose in midlife to earn a BSB in Accounting at the University of Minnesota in 1974 and a CPA in 1976. Following her studies, she rose to Director of Financial and Office Services at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, standing by to offer key testimony at many legislative hearings and serving in the department for 25 distinguished years. She retired in 2000 with the admiration of her many colleagues. In the following years, Shirley researched and wrote histories for her family tree. She took time to volunteer for the Ramsey County Public Library and loved gardening. Most of all, Shirley deeply loved her family, kept everyone together, near and far, young in age and young in spirit, participating in many family picnics and reunions through the years. She will be dearly missed. Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 9 from 2-4 PM with remembrances at 4 PM, at Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel, 2610 - 19th Ave. NE, Mpls. Burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Monday, Dec. 10, at 10:35 AM, Lane #6. Memorials preferred to the U of MN Carlson School of Management Dean’s Excellence Fund or the U of MN Landscape Arboretum.  Please search makingagift.umn.edu for detailswww.Washburn-McReavy.com Hillside Chapel 612-781-1999

Published on December 9, 2018