Shirlee Van Erem

Shirlee E. Van Erem, 86, formerly of Bismarck, died peacefully Dec. 5, 2015, at the Benedictine Living Center in Garrison, ND. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 11, at Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave., Bismarck, with Rev. Wayne Sattler officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursday, December 10, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Ave., Bismarck, where there will be a vigil/rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Shirlee was born August 14, 1929, at Temple near Tioga, ND, the daughter of Bernard L. and Dorothy E. (Williamson) Sagaser. Her family moved to Montana where Bernard worked in construction at the Ft. Peck Dam. Shirlee returned to ND to live with her grandparents to attend school. Her family later moved to the rural Jamestown area where they farmed. She attended school at St. John’s Academy, graduating in 1947, earning a full tuition scholarship to the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN. Regrettably, she was not able to attend. She was a passionate life-long learner and at age 40 attended Valley City State College earning a degree in English and Education in just 2.5 years. Shirlee met Harvey Van Erem, a WWII veteran from Buchanan, at a roller skating pavilion at Spiritwood Lake. They were married Aug. 18, 1948, at St. James Catholic Church in Jamestown. Harvey worked as a broadcast engineer for KSJB. Together they raised 4 children and Shirlee insisted they all had access to college education. She was very creative and especially enjoyed the arts, including music, painting, drama, photography, gardening, sewing and quilting. Her zest for life was evident in her desire to teach and inspire others. Shirlee managed retail women’s clothing stores in Jamestown and Bismarck (Morrey Allen’s) for 13 years and served as President of the Kirkwood Mall Retailers Association. She began her own fabric store which evolved to specialize in quilting fabrics, lessons, and Bernina sewing machine sales at Dimensions Sewing Center. She enjoyed travelling and studying with top quilters, creating her own collection of art quilts which were featured in various galleries, including Bismarck Art and Galleries Association. Her love for travel and adventure culminated in trips to Europe, Mexico, Japan and New Zealand. Shirlee is survived by Harvey Van Erem, her husband of 67 years, Bismarck; her children Gregory Van Erem, Stillwater, MN, Alayne Van Erem, Marshfield, WI, Phil Van Erem, Bismarck, and Kay Van Erem, Bismarck; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her brothers B. Chester Sagaser, Peeples Valley, AZ, Clifford Sagaser, Canton, Illinois, and Thomas L. Sagaser, Jamestown. She was preceded in death by her parents.