Shirley Albrecht

Shirley Arlien (Johnson) Albrecht’s long journey, after having brain tumor surgery in October of 2012, is over.  Shirley died on Sunday, September 13, 2020, at age 91, from Corona Virus acquired at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center.

A graveside service will be held at 2PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Mandan Union Cemetery with Rev. Christina Martin officiating.  You’re asked to bring your own lawn chairs if unable to stand for the service.

Shirley was born May 1, 1929 to Axel and Agny (Dagsvik) Johnson and raised southwest of Mandan on a farm near Chimney Butte.  The youngest of 4 children, Shirley knew what hard work was all about as her family raised cattle, chickens, and pigs and farmed the land that was originally acquired under the Homestead Act.  After 8 ^th grade, Shirley went to Mandan to complete high school.  During that time, she worked for room and board.  Following high school, Shirley attended Dickinson State College for three semesters and taught grades 1-8 for 3 years at Chimney Butte School.

Shirley and her family were involved in church events at Stone Lutheran Church and Heart River Lutheran Church and she also took part in area dances at Big Heart, Judson, and New Salem.  This is where she met her future husband, Arnold Albrecht whom she called ‘honey babe’ while she was in the nursing home.   Married in 1949, they farmed land in the Judson area until 1956 when they moved to Mandan, ND.  In 2019, they celebrated 70 years of marriage.

Working to support her family, Shirley held various secretarial positions.  She worked at Provident Life, Lewis and Clark Elementary School of Mandan, Catholic Family Services, and was an administrative secretary for the mayor and auditor of Bismarck, ND the last 17 years of her working career.  Her one regret was that she never finished her teaching degree; she would have enjoyed working with students in the classroom.

Always active at First Lutheran Church, Shirley taught Sunday school, was involved in organizing Couple’s Club, participated in Ladies Aid, circle, work groups, and Bible Study groups.

Shirley and Arnold had two children, daughter, Claudia married to Gary Tomanek and son, Clayton married to Carla (Friedt).  Family was an important part of their lives and they enjoyed their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren that spent many holidays and special events together.  Shirley loved and nurtured her grandchildren and great grandchildren even babysitting the last few weeks before her surgery.  Her beloved grandchildren include Jason and Kimberley Tomanek, Jennifer and Dallas Scheet, Michael and Cassia Albrecht, Mark and Noel Albrecht, David and Eve Albrecht, Daniel and Kinsey Albrecht.  Her great grandchildren include Olivia and Jaxon Tomanek, Scarlett and Evelynn Scheet, Cia, Jovi, Jax, and Qwen Albrecht, Alex and Ivory Albrecht, Judson, Finley, and Taylor Albrecht.

Surviving Shirley are her nieces, Jerilyn Tomanek, Betty Ann Robinson, Gloria Weaver, Debra Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Jeninne Albrecht and her nephews, Dennis Johnson, Craig Giese, Bryan Giese, and her sister-in-law, JoAnn Albrecht.

Meeting her in Heaven will be her husband Arnold; her grandparents, Jessinia and Johann Johnson and Rebekka and Svedrup Dagsvik; her Mother and Dad, Agny and Axel Johnson; her nephews, Terry Johnson, Tim Albrecht, and Glenn Giese; her niece, Debbie Albrecht; her brothers and their wives, Art and Bunny Johnson and Roy and Larraine Johnson; her sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Boyd Sorbo; her brother-in-law Helmut Albrecht;  her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Archie and Hildegard Giese; and her sister- in- law, Florence Albrecht.