Shirley Callister

A beautiful soul has left us...Shirley Ann (Saunders) Callister, age 93 of Cannon Falls, died on Sunday morning, November 30 at Cannon Rivers Senior Living.

Shirley was born on July 16, 1932 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the youngest daughter of Walter and Dollie (Kerr) Saunders. She graduated from Cannon Falls High School in 1950 and attended the Minnesota School of Business.

She married William "Bill" Callister on September 5, 1953. They were married for 60 years and had five children. They farmed in Hampton Township, and while raising their young family, she pitched in with farming and chores. They later divorced.

Shirley was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Cannon Falls. She was the church secretary for 20+ years, a typist at the Cannon Falls Beacon and bookkeeper for Four Seasons Travel. Shirley also served as a volunteer for Meals-on-Wheels, the church's youth groups, and as a Book Buddy at the elementary school.

Her real calling was her family. She rarely missed a chance to attend her children's and grandchildren's events. She poured herself into family, friends and neighbors. Her true gifts were selfless giving and a kind spirit. She handled hardship with dignity and grace.

She was the queen of Special K bars, the best letter writer, and she shared her countless cross-stitch pieces with those that she loved. Shirley will be remembered for her generous nature as well as a caregiver to many. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children, Jean (Marty) Callister-Benson of Northfield, Cathy Callister of Cannon Falls, Debbie (John) Levin of Cannon Falls, Chip (Micki) Callister of Cannon Falls, and Susan (Rahn) Safe of Cannon Falls; her Svien nephews, who were like her own children, David (Kathy) Svien of Cleveland, MN, Laurie (Patty) Svien of Lake City, MN and Eric (Carin Offerman) of Wickenburg, AZ; 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one on the way; sisters-in-law, Patricia Boehne of Bloomington, Mavis (Bruce) Johnson and Sharon (Jerry) Callister-Huebner, of Cannon Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Joyce (Irling) Svien.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 30 at 11:00 am, with visitation from 9:30 am - 11:00 am, at Our Saviour's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, with Pastors Tim Banks and Dean Aponte-Safe officiating with lunch immediately following the service. The service will be live-streamed and available to watch below. Interment at the Cannon Falls Cemetery will follow after the luncheon.

Honorary urn bearers will be her grandchildren.

Memorials may be given in her memory to your local food shelf, church of your choice, or FiftyNorth in Northfield.

LIVESTREAM INFORMATION: For those who would like to participate in Shirley’s service via livestream, you can watch the service on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 11:00 am. It can be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of this page and click PLAY to begin. Please leave a message of support on our Tribute Wall to let the family know you were able to watch the service. If you are having troubles with the Livestream, the service will be available to watch later in the day.