Shirley Eloise Huskins

*Please note, donations are preferred in lieu of flowers.* Shirley Eloise Huskins, 92, of Edina passed away on Friday, December 27, 2019. She fell acutely ill on Christmas Day and passed away peacefully two days later, surrounded by family and clergy. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, William E. (Bill) Huskins, Jr., in 1985, parents, Charles J. and Esther C. Larson in 1974 and 1977 respectively, and sisters Doris E. Phelps (Edward) in 1972, Edythe L. Olson (Edward) in 2005, and Ethel I. Sparks (Robert) in 2012. She is survived by daughter Deborah Huskins (Alex Andrea), son William Charles Huskins (Diana Carey), three grandchildren—Alyssa Andrea (Takashi Hatta), Kellen Andrea, and Estelle Huskins—and a great-granddaughter, Hiori Hatta. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Judy Schlingman (Fred), Nancy Farmer (David), Patricia Nash (Peter, deceased), Michele Grosser (Kent), James G. Bennett III, Barbara Bennett, William Bennett (Lois), Robert Bennett (AhJu), Taylor Bennett, and Nancy Luther (Chris) and their children and grandchildren. Shirley was born on December 26, 1927 in Cosmos, MN, where she lived with her parents and sisters. She worked in her family’s general merchandise store, a community resource that helped people survive during the Great Depression. She graduated from Litchfield High School and attended Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota. She worked at Northwest Airlines, where she met Bill. They married on June 24, 1950. The couple competed in sailboat races on Twin Cities’ lakes in the 1950s. In 1955, Shirley, Bill, and Deborah, moved to Tokyo, Japan, where Bill worked in Northwest’s Orient operations. Charles was born in 1958, and the family returned to Minnesota 1959-61. They returned to Tokyo where Bill served as Northwest’s Vice President of Orient Operations for 6 years. Shirley embraced the cultural opportunities of living in Japan, studying the language, flower arranging, and silk brush painting. She co-founded a nursery school that remains affiliated with the American School in Japan. In 1967, the family returned to Minnesota and Shirley plunged into various new volunteer activities. Shirley and Bill were founding members of the Japan America Society of Minnesota. Shirley served in a leadership role in the Society for many years and received the Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership in 2009. She also served on the Board of the Normandale Japanese Garden for 40 years, leading fund raising activities, including the annual Sukiyaki Dinner, and hosting many Garden events. Shirley was an active member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and served on its Council for 30 years, many as its Secretary. She took Bible Study, cooked at Cathedral of the Pines camp, volunteered at Rolling Acres home for children with disabilities, and participated in many other church activities. Well into her 80’s, Shirley drove for Meals on Wheels, delivering food for people unable to leave their homes. Shirley and Bill loved the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and led countless family camping trips. In the 1980’s, they built a family cabin near Ely, establishing a setting for a generational legacy of family activity and appreciation of the wilderness. Shirley lived her life with grace and dignity, guided by the values of her faith and her respect for all people. She had a loving, kind, generous, humble, engaging and adventurous spirit that was recognized and appreciated by all who knew her. A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 25 at 11AM at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church 5025 Knox Ave. S, Mpls. Visitation will occur at the church one-hour prior to the service. There will be a private interment. In keeping with Shirley’s passions for enhancing the spiritual lives of youth, preserving precious natural resources, and fostering intercultural understanding, donations are preferred in lieu of flowers to Mount Olivet Cathedral of the Pines Camp, Friends of the Boundary Waters, or the Normandale Japanese Garden.

Tributes

Shirley Eloise Huskins

December 26, 1927 - December 27, 2019

Tributes

Shirley Eloise Huskins

December 26, 1927 - December 27, 2019

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