Shirley Mae (Socia) Behning

Munising

Shirley Mae (Socia) Behning, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, and aunt passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 29, 2019 at Munising Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.

Shirley was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on March 11, 1927 to the late Jack and Thelma (Watchorn) Socia.  She graduated from Alpena High School in 1945.  Shirley married the love of her life Louie A. Behning on June 15, 1946 and together they raised their family in Ossineke.  Although Shirley spent most of her life taking care of her family, she also helped Louie with their berry farm as well as working for Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service for fifteen years. Shirley and Louie were blessed with sixty-six years of marriage when he preceded her in death on June 20, 2012.

After Louie passed, she became a Yooper girl once again, living out her days with her son Lew and daughter-in-law Brenda in Munising.  Shirley’s priorities in life were family and church.  Her greatest joy was bringing joy to others and loving the Lord.  She did both completely.  Shirley was a faithful member of the Hope Lutheran Church in Hubbard Lake, MI.  She enjoyed the simple things in life like anytime family and friends stopped by for a visit, baking cookies, HUGS, and she always had room to eat a nutty donut or sweet treat with her tea.  She will be missed!

Left behind to cherish her memories are her loving children – Lew (Brenda) Behning of Munising, MI and William (Kathy) Behning of Alpena, MI; grandchildren – Bryan Behning, Erica Behning, Christina (Paul) Larsen, Michael Barney, Stephanie Behning, Brandon Behning, Shane Behning, and Lee Alexander; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews, and many wonderful friends from throughout the years.  Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Louie, parents Jack and Thelma, sisters Mary Beth Dault and Ida Lou Mitchell, and brothers Jack, Wayne, and Richard Socia.

Visitation will be on Sunday, December 15, 2019 at Eden Lutheran Church in Munising from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m.  Pastor Ann Gonyea will conduct Shirley’s celebration of life service at 4:00 p.m. at the church, with a fellowship gathering to follow.  A second celebration of life will be held at the Hope Lutheran Church of Hubbard Lake, MI at a later date.  Interment will be at Hope Lutheran Church Cemetery right beside her sweet Louie.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Shirley’s name are requested to be made to: Alger County Commission on Aging, 1604 Sand Point Rd., Munising, MI 49862, Munising Memorial Hospital End of Life Care, Attention: Christi Salo, 1500 Sand Point Rd., Munising, MI 49862, or Women of Hope Lutheran Church, 5462 Nicholson Hill Rd., Hubbard Lake, MI 49747.