Shirley R. Ertel, age 67, of Maple Lake died October 29, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Memorial Services will be held 6:00 p.m. Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Maple Lake with Deacon Ron Freeman officiating.  Visitation will be held from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel.

Shirley Rae Ertel was born to Ruby and Henry McAllister in Bertha on November 11, 1946.  She was the 5 ^th of 8 children.  Shirley grew up on the family farm in Bertha and graduated from Bertha High School with the Class of 1964.  After school, she worked at Dayton's Department Store in downtown Minneapolis.  In 1969 she moved to Monticello, where she raised her five children.  From 1978-2014, she worked with the WCCA Head Start Program; she enjoyed helping the many Wright County children and families.  On June 27, 1992, she was united in marriage to Eugene Ertel at the Pioneer Park Chapel, Annandale.  Over the years, Shirley assisted with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, enjoyed family time, sewing and embroidering.  Shirley continues to help others even after her death; she has donated her body to the Anatomy Bequest Program at the University of Minnesota.

She is survived by her husband Eugene Ertel of Maple Lake; Children Sheila (John) Anderson of Kimball, Julie Smith (significant other Tim) of Maple Lake, Eugene (Tina) Hageman of Annandale, Miranda (Mike) Glimsdahl of Lakeville and Melenda (Lee) Flanum of Annandale; step children Debbie (Greg) Helmbrecht of Annandale, Penny (Dave) Berdan of St. Cloud, Jean (Joe) Kramer of Maple Lake, Sheri (Pat) Goelz of Maple Lake and Michael Ertel (significant other Melissa) of Buffalo; brothers and sisters Duane (Anita) McAllister, Arliss (Dale) Lovelace, Jim (Darlene) McAllister, Mary Wood, Sally (Steve) Ackermann and Ardy McAllister; 14 grandchildren; 17 step grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and 8 step great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Gordon McAllister; and nephews Cody and Ross.