Shirley Ann Larsen-Java-Kongshaug, 89, passed away May 5, 2026, at Cannon Rivers Senior Living in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Shirley was born Nov. 21,1936, at home in West Sweden, Wisconsin, to Raymond and Myrtle (Simonsen) Larsen. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended grade school at West Sweden.
After graduation from Frederic High School in 1954, Shirley went to work for Archer Daniels Midland Co. in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a teletype operator. In 1957, she married Daniel M. Java of Frederic, Wisconsin, and worked as a secretary at Farmers State Bank in Frederic. In 1958/’59 Shirley worked as a telephone operator in Frederic while Dan was on tour in Korea. After his tour to Korea, they resided at Ft. Lewis, Washington, where she worked at Rhodes Department Store in Tacoma. In 1961 they were transferred to Ft. Wainwright, Fairbanks, Alaska. While living in Alaska, she worked as a claims secretary. Dan’s company was deployed to Vietnam in early 1966, and therefore, Shirley returned to Frederic and again worked as a secretary at the Farmers State Bank. Dan was killed in action in December 1966, so Shirley remained in Frederic and continued working at the bank.
In 1968 Shirley married Kenneth Kongshaug, and they resided on Trade Lake in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. She worked at this time for attorney E. D. Jensen (a.k.a. Jensen & Anderson) in Grantsburg for 25 years. Shirley and Ken enjoyed traveling to several states and took trips to Norway, Denmark and Sweden. They were planning to retire to the Redmond, Oregon, area, but Ken passed away in June 1993. Shirley continued with their plans and moved to Crooked River Ranch, Oregon, and for the next five years she worked as a legal secretary in Madras and Redmond, Oregon.
When Shirley retired, she met Gary Echelberger and moved to Bend, Oregon. For the next 17 years, Shirley and Gary enjoyed traveling to several states, fishing off the coast of Oregon, camping and fishing in local reservoirs, and fishing for halibut in Alaska. When Gary passed away in 2014, Shirley returned to her roots and resided in Luck, Wisconsin, until 2024 when her memory began to fail. She then went to Cannon Rivers Senior Living in Cannon Falls to be near her sister and family.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Daniel Java and Kenneth Kongshaug; her companion, Gary Echelberger; brother, Robert Larsen; sister, Nancy Kreutzian; niece, Lori (Jack) Cullen; nephew-in-law, Jerry (Jill) Serres; brothers-in-law, Walter Java, Larry Java, Kenneth Java, and Bruce Kreutzian; and sisters-in-law, Cora (Java) Peterson and Inga Olson.
Shirley is survived by her stepson, Jeff Kongshaug; sister-in-law, Delores Larsen; nephews, Todd (Stefanie) Kreutzian and Terry (Brenda) Larsen; niece, Jill Serres; great-nieces and great-nephews, Siiri (Xavier) Foeller, Sean (Alexandra) Serres, Allie (Ryan) Lindfors; and several great-nieces and great-nephews, Owen, Isla, Saylor, Colt and Georgia Lee.
Shirley enjoyed putting puzzles together, oil painting, working in her flower gardens, and watching wildlife. She loved people, being social, going out to eat and playing cards with her lady friends. Even through many hardships in life, Shirley was always uplifting to be around and a friend to all.
Many thanks to Brighton Hospice and Cannon Rivers Senior Living for their wonderful care. Arrangements have been entrusted by Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic. Shirley will be cremated and family will have a graveside service at a later date.
