Shirley Margaret Prescott

Shirley Margaret Prescott died at the age of 89 on December 19, 2024.

 Born to German and French parents, Shirley’s strong, beautiful, adaptable and witty personality reflected her hard-working, close-knit family and rugged, North Woods upbringing. Initially raised without modern comforts including indoor plumbing, a furnace or an electric refrigerator, Shirley attended a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade. She had a pet deer, Jimmy, and loved canoeing and target shooting with her .22 rifle. 

At age 18, she moved to an apartment on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, earned her cosmetology license and worked as a beautician at a salon in the Foshay Tower. Shirley met the love of her life, Gerald (aka Jerry), after he saw her dance the Mexican Hat Dance at a party. They married a few months later and moved to Northridge, California where they raised a family. Shirley became an avid gardener and cultivated citrus trees and gardens with more than 100 rose bushes. She enjoyed season tickets to the Hollywood Bowl, dancing dates with Jerry, the horse races at Del Mar, vacationing in Pismo Beach, Las Vegas, and Mammoth Mountain—and traveling to the California missions and sites along the Oregon Trail. Shirley retired with Jerry in Peoria Arizona, and later moved to Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Shirley was dearly loved by her family and friends and will be forever missed. She’s survived by daughter/son Pamela & Richard Fassione, son/daughter Thomas & Ariel Prescott, daughter Cynthia Saunders, sisters-in-law Marjorie Benjamin & Mary Jane Steinhilpert, 10 grandchildren & 5 great-grandchildren. 

She’s preceded in death by husband Gerald; parents Fritz & Philomena Steinhilpert; brothers Fred & Charlie; brothers-in-law Walter Benjamin & Roger Prescott; sisters-in-law Shirley Prescott, Lois Miller & Ramona Butler; and son-in-law Sean Saunders.

Funeral service 1/24/25 at 11:00 AM at Saint Therese Church, 18325 Minnetonka Blvd, Wayzata. Visitation 1-hour prior to service and lunch immediately after. Memorials preferred to the San Fernando Mission: contact Ana Felix afelix@la-archdiocese.org, 818-361-0186.