Shirley Halonen
Shirley A. Halonen, 80, passed away from cancer April 8, 2022, at her home near Melrose.
Shirley was born Oct. 17, 1941, to Dave and Florence Halonen. She attended the West Indies grade school, Melrose Junior High School, and graduated from Melrose High School with the class of 1959. After graduation, she was employed in St. Paul, MN, and Rockford, IL.
She married Edward Bilberry in Rockford, and they later divorced. Shirley returned to Melrose with her daughter, Dawn, and lived at her childhood home with her mother whom she cared for until her mother’s death.
Shirley was employed for 35 years at Northern Engraving in Sparta. She enjoyed raising Arabian horses for 20 years, a hobby she shared with her daughter. She also enjoyed painting wildlife art, which she had a talent for, her ministry work, playing guitar and the years she was able to go on daily walks with her friends enjoying the beauty of nature. Shirley treasured her family and friends, as they did her.
She is survived by her daughter, Dawn Erickson of Melrose; her brother, Robert Halonen (Lois) of Oneida; her sister, Eleanor Bourgeois of Marquette, MI; her granddaughters, Heather Erickson and Ashley Erickson, both of Sparta; nieces and nephew and friends; and last but not least, her beloved cat, Sweetie.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Cliff Bourgeois.
An excerpt from her letter to classmates at their 50th class reunion says it best. “Although I live alone, I am not lonely when I can go outside and witness all the beauty around us. I am a country girl and I love country life and I love where I live.”
Shirley was a member of the Sparta congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A celebration of life for Shirley will be held May 14, 2022, at The Gathering Place 133 Mason St., Onalaska, WI. Visitation will be held from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with services at 2 p.m. A luncheon will follow the service.
Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.