Background
Ekern, Shirley Jean Sanders was born on February 27, 1925 in Williston, North Dakota, United States. Daughter of Edwin Samuel and Edith (Swenson) Sanders.
Ekern, Shirley Jean Sanders was born on February 27, 1925 in Williston, North Dakota, United States. Daughter of Edwin Samuel and Edith (Swenson) Sanders.
Diploma in nursing, Fairview Hospital School Nursing, 1947. Bachelor, Concordia College, 1948. Postgraduate, University Minnesota.
Postgraduate, College of St. Benedict, 1975.
Private duty nurse various hospitals in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, 1947-1959. School nurse, teaching nurse American Red Cross, Egan and Flandreau, South Dakota, 1949-1951. Staff Registered Nurse Flandreau Hospital, 1949-1959, administrator, 1959.
Manager bookstore University Minnesota, Morris, 1967-1968. Director nursing Villa of St. Francis, 1968-1973, Grace Home, Graceville, Minnesota, 1984-1987. Staff Registered Nurse, then charge Registered Nurse Stevens County Hospital, Morris, 1964-1977.
Psychiatric Registered Nurse Willmar (Minnesota) Regional Treatment Center, since 1988. Facilitator Stevens County International Year of Disabled Persons, Morris, 1981. Member advisory board Stevens PHN.
Member board directors Big Stone County Hospice, 1985-1987. Parish nurse, First Lutheran Church, Morris, 1997. Member American Association of University Women, Minnesota Nurses Association (president local district 1992-1994, secretary, board directors since 1966), Sons of Norway.
Married John Melvin Ekern, November 25, 1948. Children: Joan, Julianne, Jenifer, Erik (deceased).