Shirley J. Hillestad Grove

Shirley Joan Grove, 77, of Woodbury MN, formerly of White Bear Lake, passed away Thursday, October 11, 2012 at home. Shirley was born June 25, 1935 in Faribault, MN to the late John and Lucille Hillestad. She graduated from Faribault High School as an honor student, where she participated in cheerleading and choir and very active in her church, the Fourth Avenue United Methodist Church of Faribault. After graduation, she worked as a private secretary to the Chaplin of the Shattuck Military Academy. She met her husband Virgil Grove of 53 years at the University of Minnesota through mutual friends. Shirley and Virgil were married on December 28, 1959 at the Shattuck Chapel of the Good Shepherd, in Faribault, MN. They moved to Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX, where Virgil was stationed in the Army. After completing his tour of duty, they moved to Baltimore, MD where Virgil was employed by the Baltimore County School System and Shirley worked as a private secretary at Westinghouse Corporation. After five years they moved back to White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Virgil was employed at Forest Lake Senior High School. Shirley worked briefly for Ryan Equipment before she started her adventure as a mother to Kevin and Brian. She was an active member in the First Lutheran Church of White Bear Lake where she participated in various church groups over the years. Shirley enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking and baking, shopping, watching sports, both her son’s and professional, and music. Shirley will be remembered as someone who always had a smile on her face and thought of others before herself. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband, Virgil Grove of Woodbury; her two children, Kevin (Julie) Grove of Hammond, WI and Brian Grove of Minneapolis and one special granddaughter, Elizabeth Grove. She is further survived by her brother, Allen (Marlene) Hillestad, cousins, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Patricia (Don) Folsom, and all of her other aunts and uncles. The family would like to thank Dr. Franklin Flemming, Dr. James Shanks, Dr Balkrishna Jahagirdar, Dr. Eric Nussbaum and Dr. Leslie Nussbaum. The family has also been grateful for the services provided by the Good Samaritan Society of Maplewood, Baywood Home Care, Health Partners Hospice Care and many other health care professionals. Visitation from 4 – 8 pm Mon, 10/15/12, at Mueller Lake Mortuary, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake and 1 hour prior to the service at church. Funeral Service 11 am Tues, 10/16/12, at First Lutheran Church, 4000 Linden Ave., White Bear Lake. Interment at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault.