Shirley Ann (Klingsheim) Bentdahl, age 83, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away peacefully on August 21st surrounded by her loving family in her home in Edina, Minn. She suffered a massive stroke on June 25, 2019. She not only survived the stroke, but she worked tirelessly for fourteen months to recover. A testament to the lifelong commitment she had to exercise and staying in excellent shape.

She was born on April 28, 1937, and raised on her family farm near Harmony, Minn. She graduated from Harmony High School in 1955 with honors as class Valedictorian.

She graduated from Luther College in 1959, served one term on the Board of Regents, and was a recipient of the Luther College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

She had a love for learning and a love of teaching. She taught 7th and 8th grade English at La Crescent (Minn.) High School for many years. She was a tutor and mentor to homeless children enrolled at the Pappas Kids Schoolhouse Foundation in Phoenix, Ariz. She went on to create the Ray Bentdahl Scholarship Foundation to allow many of the Pappas students to attend college and graduate school. Her last student was just accepted to the Sandra Day O'Connor School of Law.

Once she started something, she saw it through to the end. She also created a scholarship fund for students graduating from Harmony High School to attend Luther College. She was a generous philanthropist and active member of Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn., and the Pinnacle Peak Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Ariz. She was a long-time choir member in both church choirs and took great pride in hosting the annual choir party at her home in Scottsdale.

When the family moved from southern Minnesota to Edina she started a flower business, LesFleurs, and she was well known among interior designers as the "go to" flower designer in the Twin Cities. Her greatest joy was spending time with her devoted family and her many, many friends.

She married the love of her life, Ray Bentdahl ‘59, when they were seniors attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. They spent 53 years together and raised a wonderful family.

She is survived by her children Ann Bentdahl ‘85 (husband Roger), Craig; grandchildren Kelsey, Kinsey, Kelly and Kate; step-grandsons Tyler and Cory; nieces Kristi Nitz and Mary Babel; grandnieces Avery, Lyla, Carolyn and grandnephews Ryan, Noah, and Keane. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur E. and Amelia T. (Olson) Klingsheim, sister Elenore, brother Kenny, and her devoted husband and best friend, Elray E. "Ray" Bentdahl ‘59. Memorial gifts can be made to Luther College (700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101), the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (920 E. 28th Street #100, Minneapolis, MN 55407) or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (3001 Metro Drive #100, Bloomington, MN 55425). Visitation was August 28th at the Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel (5000 West 50th Street, Edina, MN.) Private funeral service was held on August 29th at the Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, (3600 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN.) Interment followed at the Bentdahl gravesite at Lakewood Cemetery immediately following the funeral service. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100