Shelby Stonestrom

Shelby Carol Stonestrom, age 88, passed away in hospice care on October 13th, just before midnight, after a brief stay at Prairie Ridge Hospital.

Her family and friends will remember her warmth and gentle spirit. They will especially miss her laughter and talents that she so graciously shared. Shelby could out-Martha Stewart even Martha Stewart herself. For summer BBQs and holidays, it was simply assumed that Shelby would bring the dessert. Mutiny would occur if she offered to bring anything else.

Her cut out Christmas cookies were unmatched in taste and artistic merit. No slouch in the green thumb department, she could make an amaryllis bulb bloom, not once, but twice each year. Her apron collection was fit for the Smithsonian. She also excelled at sewing, crafting and frying fish caught by “the boys.”

She especially loved spending time with her family. They will remember her as a puzzle-solving legend who could make a beautiful picture from thousands of pieces without breaking a sweat.

Shelby and Dick traveled extensively visiting California, Arizona, Alaska, Oregon, Georgia, Boston, Nova Scotia, Montreal, Scandinavia, the North Shore, Florida and more—but her favorite part of traveling was always coming back home.

She was a graduate of Mora High School and the University of Minnesota. Much like her personal life, Shelby spent her professional life focused on children and the nuclear family. She retired from Elbow Lake Elementary School after 31 years as an instructional assistant and was proud of each student she taught there.

Early in her career she taught swimming and water safety to kids in the chilly lakes surrounding Mora, Minnesota. She was also a case social worker for Kanabec County. She made a difference to everyone she encountered, showing us how to—with utmost patience and grace—solve the numerous puzzles of life.

Shelby is survived by her husband of 66 years Richard Stonestrom, her children Heidi (Mick) Callanan, Eric Stonestrom and Todd (Amy) Stonestrom, her grandsons Shane Callanan, Jason Callanan (Allegra) and Drew Stonestrom, her great-grandchildren Reyna Callanan and Baby Callanan (due in November) along with her sister Jill Washburn (Mike) and many loving extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her infant daughter Karen Stonestrom, her parents Paul and Gayle Grahek, sister Pauline (Dick) Nelson and her brothers Donald (Teresa) Grahek and Mickey (Alice) Grahek.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Elbow Lake First Responders, PO Box 55, Elbow Lake, MN 56531 or the First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 14, Ashby, MN 56309. Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, October 30 from 2-5 p.m. at Erickson Smith Funeral Home, 116 1st St NE, Elbow Lake, Minnesota.