Irene Bly

Irene LaVera (Shaw) Bly of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Spring Valley, MN, died Sunday, October 2, 2016 after a brief hospitalizaton for heart failure.  She was 98.

Irene was born in Spring Valley, MN on Jan 13, 1918 to parents Harrison Samuel Shaw and Alida Tippery Shaw. The family lived in LaCross in her early school years, returning to a farm south of Spring Valley in 1932 when she was 14. In order to continue school, Irene went to work for $2 a week and boarded in town with Glenn Bly’s family becoming close life long friends with Odessa Bly. Irene graduated high school from Spring Valley in 1935.  She married Teft Bly on December 21, 1936. They farmed in Spring Valley area, built rendering plants in Minnesota and Iowa, ran mining ventures in Wyoming, fixed run down houses and businesses in several states, allowing them to focus their lives on traveling North America.

Irene never passed by a historic site without a visit to learn about it and the people involved. On many trips into Mexico and Central America, they brought pencils and paper for children who had none. After Teft’s death in 1986, Irene traveled in North America and Europe, meeting people and learning everywhere she went. She lived in Mesa AZ for the past fifteen years. In spite of poor vision she continued to read a wide range of books and newspapers until her death. She was an extraordinary woman, business person, counselor, friend, teacher, historian, wife, mother and grandmother. 

Irene is survived by David and Cathy Bly of Sierra Vista, Az and three grandchildren, Victor, Tracy and Sarah; also by Judith (Bly) and Gael Hughes of Sacramento, CA and three grandchildren, Collin, Heather and Christopher; also by her daughter in law Rachel Bly of Red Wing, MN, and grandchildren Tim and Susie, plus several great grandchildren.  Irene was preceeded in death by her husband Teft Hallie Bly, her son Gordon Irl Bly and her grandson Mike Bly.

Services will be held at the Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley, Minnesota on October 15, 2016.  Visitation between 11:00 and 1:00. Services will be held at 1:00

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