Kathleen V. Sponheim

KATHLEEN VERONICA SPONHEIM was born to Paul and Agnes (Casey) Shirley on December 17, 1921 on a farm near Slayton, Minnesota where she was raised and attended country school for eight years. She continued her education at Slayton High School. After her graduation in 1939, she attended beauty school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon completion of her education in 1941, she became employed as a beautician in the shop owned and operated by Esther (Sponheim) DeClerk in Jasper, Minnesota. Then, in 1943, she moved to Detroit, Michigan where she worked in a defense plant. In January, 1945, she returned to Slayton and began working in a beauty shop there. On December 29, 1945, she was united in marriage to Selmer “Bud” Sponheim at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm near Jasper. On May 13, 1974, they had a farm sale and moved into Jasper. Bud preceded her in death on April 10, 1997. After his death, Kathleen continued to live in Jasper. She moved to the Sunrise Village in Jasper on November 1, 2008 and then, on May 6, 2009, became a resident at Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in Pipestone, Minnesota. On Sunday, February 13, 2011, she was admitted to the Pipestone County Medical Center where she died that day at the age of 89 years, one month and 26 days.

Kathleen was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper where she was active in the Altar Society. She was also active in the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed bowling and playing cards.

She is lovingly remembered by her son, Joe and his wife Sharon Sponheim of Cold Spring, Minnesota; one daughter-in-law, Mary Sponheim of Riverton, Wyoming; four grandchildren, Paul, Chris, Andy and Katie; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Shirley of Traverse, Michigan and Fidelis Harington of Mankato, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her sons, Bruce and David; her daughter-in-law, Jewyll Sponheim; three brothers, Leo, Chester and Clement Shirley; and two sisters, Rita Mae Dorn and Florence Miller.