Shirley Welna

Shirley Welna, 86 year old resident of Little Falls died Wednesday, September 26 at the St. Cloud Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 1st at 11:00am at Grace Covenant Church, with visitation starting at 9:30am. The burial will be held at a later date.



Shirley Ann Rylander was born February 19, 1932 at St. Gabriels Hospital in Little Falls, MN. She attended school in Little Falls and was united in marriage to Joseph Marvin Marv Welna on September 1st, 1949. Marv and Shirley raised their family in LittleFalls where Shirley stayed home to care for her children before working for the Department of Motor Vehicles.She was also a very active member of the community, serving on the Musser Weyerhaeuser board, Lindbergh Symposium, and several parade committees and events throughout Morrison County. Shirley was an active member with the Little Falls American Legion Auxiliary Post #46, serving as president, chaplain, and musician at the local level for 25 years and the district level for 15 years. Shirley had a love of music, a love of cooking, but her greatest love was her family, who treasured her gift to create magical Christmas memories, as well as her ability to make every birthday a special occasion.



Shirley will especially be remembered for her talent in the kitchen and the joy she received sharing her love of cooking with those she loved. She took great delight in generously showering her children and grandchildren with gifts and she treasured her time spent with her family.



Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Marvin Welna of Little Falls; children, John (Susan) Welna, Timothy (Diane) Welna, Barbara (Shawn) Flavin, Nancy Welna, Julie (Alan) Miller; brother, John (Edith) Rylander; sisters, Arlyce (Kenneth) Anderson, Joyce (Robert) Morrison; grandchildren (and their spouses), Mark, Anne, Joe, Ben, Katie, Luke, Mike, Melissa, Jack, Josh and Anna; great-grandchildren, Raine, Audrey, Will, Aria, Emmanuel, Logan, Crew, Finley, Alec, Ellie, Erik, Abe, and Ayla. Shirley was blessed to find out in her last moments that there is a new great-grandchild on the way in May of 2019!



She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Elsie Rylander; parents-in-law, Louie and Freda Welna and an infant son, Rick.



The family would like to thank the staff at the St. Cloud Hospital for the loving care Shirley received, and a special thank you to Dr. Julie Bell for her care and compassion through the years.