Shirley Ann (Haden) Lunceford of Long Prairie died peacefully on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at CentraCare Hospital in Sauk Centre, MN. She was 91. Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM-11:00 AM on Friday, July 26, 2024, at Peace United Church in Long Prairie, MN with a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM. Shirley will be buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Long Prairie, MN.
Shirley Ann Lunceford was born on January 7, 1933, in Birchdale Township, Minnesota to Charles and Grace (Francis) Haden. The family moved to Long Prairie in 1938 where Shirley and her siblings attended school. She graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1950. In June of 1950, she married Adrian “Tots” Lunceford. The first 13 years of marriage were spent in Verndale, Minnesota, where she worked at the Post Office. In 1963, the family moved to Long Prairie, Minnesota, where Shirley would live out her life. Adrian and Shirley’s union was blessed with two children, Craig in 1957 and Ann in 1960. They were divorced in 1977.
Shirley wore many hats throughout her life; she was a Boy and Girl Scout Leader, an active member in the VFW, planning and preparing many rib feeds and New Year’s parties. In later years she would work at many food establishments in the area. A gatherer by nature, Shirley collected antiques her whole life. Originally Shirley’s Antiques was in the lower level of her home and in later years, she and her daughter would operate a booth in Antiques Osakis. In her last few years of employment, she worked at The Bargain Barn, Just Like Grandmas, and Antiques Osakis, all at the same time.
Shirley was an active member of the Todd County Historical Society, retiring at age 82. She was an active and outspoken member of the committees that preserved the Christie House, Reichert Hotel, and Todd County Courthouse. She had an uncanny recollection of people and the history of her community and surrounding area which served her well as a member, volunteer, and later curator of the museum.
Throughout her life, she was an avid flower gardener, baker, reader, a birder, a collector, and a Viking and Timberwolves fan. She was always up for a road trip or a drive in the country, pulling over for every historical marker, information center, museum, point of interest, bird or wildlife spotting. She enjoyed her grandchildren and was always overjoyed by stories of the great-grandchildren’s latest activities and the adventures and antics of the “little boys”.
Survivors include her daughter, Ann (Dennis) Finch of Long Prairie; grandchildren, Breana Conrady of Littleton, Colorado and Adam (Dana) Finch of Lakewood, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Dylan and Delaney Conrady, Haden, Davis, and Nolan Finch.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; son, Craig “Crunch” Lunceford; sisters, Phyllis Haden, Velma Rahn, and Helen McGuire.
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