Shirley Ione (Olson) Gerlitz, 101, of Fargo, ND, passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, Dec 21 2025.

Shirley was born on June 2nd 1924, in Miles City, MT to Myrel and Elva (Kyseth) Olson and she was the first of 5 children to bless the Olson family. After the Great Depression began, her family moved into the Lyster House near the OsterwindFarm in Marshall, ND. Once the nation began to recover, her family moved to Fargo, ND where she attended Horace Mann Elementary (7th-8th grade), Roosevelt Elementary (9th grade) and graduated from Fargo Central High School (10th -12th grade) in 1944.

During her time at Horace Mann Elementary, her teacher Miss Lind, introduced Shirley to sewing and fancy work (needle point/cross stitch) and she found a new passion! She began making her own clothes and decorative items for herself and family for many years to come!

Shirley worked at Lundquist Eat shop as a waitress right after graduating, then to Gambles Hardware and Furniture, and then lastly worked in the Toy Department and in Ladies Hosiery at Sears.

At the age of 16, while bobbing for apples at a party at Calvary Baptist Church in Fargo, she met the love of her life Waldo Gerlitz. They dated for 4 years and were married January 16th 1945 on Langley Field, Virginia, since Waldo was stationed there before being deployed overseas for WWII. Waldo and Shirley eventually moved back to Fargo and happily raised 5 children and remained there.

Shirley greatly loved her family, flowers, the color pink, music, singing and most of all,the Lord. Shirley was very active at Calvary Baptist church as a deaconess, attended one of many Ladies circles, and helped out where ever needed until the church was sold and demolished in the early 2000's.

Shirley is survived by her 3 sons, Wayne (Shelley) Gerlitz, Bruce (Anita) Gerlitz and Jim (Julie) Gerlitz; 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Waldo; her daughter, Sandy; her son, Don; her brothers Gordy, Lauren and Duane; her sister, Muriel and her grandson, Eric.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2 PM at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home in Fargo, with visitation one hour prior and will be live streamed on the funeral home website.