Shirley Fay (Sarauer) Hespenheide

Shirley Fay Hespenheide, age 84, of Le Sueur, passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Oak Terrace Senior Living in Le Sueur, Minnesota. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belle Plaine, MN, with Pastor Martin Bentz officiating. Visitation will take place on Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Kolden Funeral Home in Le Sueur, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Belle Plaine, with a luncheon to be served at the church after the interment.

Shirley was born on September 15, 1940, in Chippewa Falls, WI, to Delmar and Lorraine (Popp) Sarauer. She was raised in Cornell, WI, where she graduated from high school. She later attended the Minnesota School of Business, where she gained the administrative skills that would serve her throughout her career.

In 1967, Shirley moved to Le Sueur and began working for Green Giant, where she spent 20 dedicated years. She was one of the last employees to leave the Le Sueur office. On August 29, 1987, she married Roger Hespenheide. Together, they shared a deep commitment to community service, especially through their active involvement in the Le Sueur Lions Club and the Leader Dog for the Blind Program. One of their proudest contributions was helping to fund a guide dog named “Hespy.” Shirley had a passion for bowling that endured for many years, and she was a devoted Minnesota Gophers fan—so much so that she held season tickets.  In leu of flowers, the family prefers donations to the LeSueur Lions Club and glasses for the Leader Dog for the Blind Program.

She is survived by her children: Brenda Hahn of Marion, SC; Louis (Brandy) Schilman of Le Sueur; Delmar Schilman of Jacksonville, FL; and Beverly Morgan of Henderson, MN. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and her siblings: Gordon Sarauer, Joan “Jacqi” Lawson, Richard (Kathy) Sarauer, and Lorilee Sarauer.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Roger, who passed away in 2011.