Shirley Ann Machulda

Shirley A. Machulda, age 87 of Detroit Lakes, MN, formerly of Waubun, MN, died Friday, June 8, 2012 at Essentia Health Oak Crossing. Shirley Ann Klatt was born November 9, 1924 in Robinson, ND, the daughter of Carl and Alice (Goodman) Klatt. Growing up, she attended country school and her family moved to the Strawberry Lake, MN, area in 1939. As a young lady, Shirley worked as a riveter in the ship yards in Oregon during WWII. She also lived in Indiana for a short time with her sister, Margaret and her family, before returning to the Waubun area. On June 16, 1944 Shirley was united in marriage to Lawrence Prellwitz. The couple lived east of Waubun and began their family of 10 children together. At a young age, Lawrence passed away in May of 1964 and Shirley continued to live east of Waubun and raise the children. She later met Edwin Machulda and they were married on September 1, 1967 in Waubun. With Ed taking on the new roles of husband and father, the family made their home east of Waubun on the Machulda homestead where they farmed. Following Edwin’s stroke in 1979, he and Shirley moved into Waubun. She worked for several years for Green Thumb, preparing meals for the elderly in Waubun and also many years for Waubun Headstart. Edwin later died in October of 2004 and soon after, Shirley moved to Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, where she remained until her death. Over the years, Shirley had many hobbies she enjoyed. She liked baking, sewing, and gardening but often preferred embroidering, working jig saw puzzles and playing Scrabble. However, one of her favorite was spending time with her family. Whether it was with her own childrens younger years in 4-H or her ever growing number of grandchildren, she loved them all! Shirley was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Waubun and its ladies aid. She also held memberships with the Red Hat Society and the VFW Auxiliary. Shirley is survived by two sons, Terry (Margaret) Prellwitz, Breckenridge, MN, and Larry Prellwitz, Frazee, MN; daughters: Betty (Ronald) Safar, Ogema, MN, Priscilla Tompkins, Frazee, Rosanne Kuehn, Twin Valley, MN, Sharon (Alan) Gallagher, Omaha, NE, Linda St. Pierre, Houston, TX, and Barbara (Duane) Safar, Ogema; 29 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Marlene Schoning, LaPorte, IN; and sister-in-law, Ceal Klatt, Kindred, ND. In addition to her husbands, Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard; daughter, Maureen; great-great-granddaughter, Autumn; son-in-law, Merril Kuehn; three sisters: Margaret, Charlotte, and Eleanor; and three brothers: Cecil, Kelsey and an infant. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Waubun, MN. Visitation will be held at the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home on Monday, June 11th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, with a Prayer Service at 6:30pm. Burial will be in St. Ann's Catholic Cemtery, Waubun.

Shirley Ann Machulda

November 9, 1924 - June 8, 2012