Shirley A. Carstens

Shirley Arlene Carstens was born December 9, 1931 to Silas and Adeline (Anderson) Thompson at Bradford, Iowa. After graduation from Iowa Falls High School in 1949, she worked as a clerk/typist for the Ralston Purina Company in Iowa Falls. Shirley also worked as a legal secretary in Lake Mills and Ames, Iowa.

Shirley married Harold Carstens at the English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Iowa Falls on August 19, 1951. To this union four children were born. The couple moved to Alta in 1957. Shirley was a homemaker for several years before working as a secretary for Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta then later for the Western Iowa Synod in Storm Lake.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Alta where she was active in WELCA. Shirley enjoyed playing cards and visiting her children and grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her infant son, Daniel.

Survivors include her husband, Harold Carstens of Alta, IA; daughter, Dorene Van Fossen of Bettendorf, IA; sons, Ken Carstens of St. Paul, MN and Brian Carstens of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren, Aaron Van Fossen, Caleb Van Fossen, Amy Van Fossen, Jeff Carstens, Nathan Carstens and Bethany Carstens; sister, Jean Anderson of Nisswa, MN and brother, Richard Thompson of Mesa, AZ.