Shirley Mae Hansen

Rock Valley, Iowa – Shirley Mae Pluss Dale Hansen, 94 of Rock Valley, died Monday, December 4, 2023, surrounded by her children, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Private Family Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 8, 2023, at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa with Pastor Jim Sweers officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Porter Funeral Home. The Hansen family prefers memorials be directed to the Rock Valley Golf Course or Hegg Health Center in Shirley’s memory.

Shirley Mae Hansen was born September 17, 1929, near Ireton, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Grace (Mandan) Pluss. Her mother, Grace, died when she was 18 months old. Shirley was raised by Ray and Freda (Freerksen) Dale on a horse farm. Her lifelong love for horses came from growing up on the Dale farm. She graduated from Hawarden High School and attended Wayne State College. She ran a ladies’ dress shop in Hawarden.

Shirley married Ken Hansen (John Kenneth) on September 17, 1955, in Hawarden. Shirley spent many evenings watching Ken play baseball. Ken died on June 16, 2013.

Shirley enjoyed Bridge, bowling, golfing, reading, and knitting. She knitted sweaters for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had requests often to make what her grandchildren called “earthquake” cookies. She and Ken enjoyed many years wintering in Green Valley, Arizona.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ken; brothers, Howard and Rudy Pluss; sisters, Irene Kratchovil-Gosch, Evonne Kane-Graf, and Neva Oldham.

Shirley is survived by her two sons, Dave and Erin of Rock Valley, Paul and Annette of Brookings, SD; four grandchildren, Matthew (Sara) Hansen of Renner, SD, Joshua (Kayla) Hansen of Rock Valley, Ashley (Drew) Hedlund of Brookings, SD, Stacey Hansen of Brookings, SD; seven great grandchildren, Ryker, FloraMae, Sylas, Kennedy, Finn, Jax and Maya; numerous nieces and nephews.