Sharline Hess, 97

Park Rapids – Sharline Hess, 97, of Park Rapids, and a long-time resident of Thief River Falls, entered her heavenly home on Monday, August 5, 2024.
Born on February 19, 1927, in Kimballton, Iowa, Sharline VerLee Rasmussen was the first child of George and Beulah (Miller) Rasmussen. She attended Melville #7 country school and graduated from Audubon High School in 1944.
Following high school, she completed a secretarial program at Commercial Extension Business College in Omaha, NE, and worked for the Danish Brotherhood Insurance Company. In 1948, Sharline moved with her family to Denver, CO where she worked for the regional manager of the Underwood Corporation.
Following her marriage to Philip Hess in 1950, the couple moved to Thief River Falls, where Steven, Jeffrey, Peter and Cynthia were born. Together they owned and operated The Jewel Box jewelry store for more than 30 years. In addition to being a mother to their four children and partner to Phil, she was an avid quilter, genealogist, and recorder of her family’s notable events.
After retiring, Sharline and Phil enjoyed traveling and for 12 years they wintered in Sun City West, AZ. They moved to Park Rapids in 2005 and enjoyed an active retirement there until Phil’s death in 2017. Sharline was blessed to spend the past six years residing at Crystal Brook, a senior living campus. Sharline is survived by her children, Steven (Judy) Hess of Menahga, Jeffrey (Arlys) Hess of Nevis, and Cynthia (Arnie) Schultz of Richey, MT. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law, Linda Hess of Laguna Niguel, CA; sister, Ila Latham of Kingsport, TN; and brother-in-law, Robert Schafer of Waconia. Also left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren, Trace Johnson, Michael (Katie) Hess, Stephanie (Gavin) Holden, Austin Schultz, CJ Hess (fiancée Christina Babcock), and Lindsey Nemeth; as well as her great-grandchildren, Madison Hess, Isabel Hess, Luke Holden, Jonah Holden, Hayden Nemeth, Luke Nemeth; and several nieces and nephews.
Sharline was preceded in death by her husband, Phil; son, Peter; her parents; and her infant sister, Altice Mae.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Riverside United Methodist Church in Park Rapids with visitation at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Roger Grafenstein and Rev. Steve Norby will officiate.
A private family interment will take place prior to the memorial service at Greenwood Cemetery in Thief River Falls.