Sherry M. Akins

Sherry Mae (Shellito) Akins was born on April 2, 1948, in Fargo, ND to Harold (Bounce) and Myrtle (Ellis) Shellito. She passed away on August 24, 2020, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Sherry grew up in Moorhead, MN, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1966. She went on to obtain her BS in Education from Moorhead State University, Master’s in Education from University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Educational Administration Degree from St. Mary’s University. On July 30, 1977, she married Bruce Akins at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, MN. Sherry taught elementary and middle school in the Hastings School District, held an administration position in Randolph School District and was an assistant principal at Hastings Middle School. She loved working with kids and was involved with many educational activities outside of the classroom. Sherry was a member of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church for 50 years where she served as a youth leader, confirmation leader, confirmation mentor, member of the musical group Unity, church council, church president, building committee member and worked on the memorial garden and other landscape projects. Sherry’s faith family at St. Philip’s Church were a very important part of her life. Sherry loved getting her hands dirty tending to her flower gardens. She was a Washington County Master Gardener and Tree Care Advisor, member of the Hastings Garden Club and HEP. She planted and maintained the day lilies on Second Street in Hastings, helped with the rain gardens at Le Duc Mansion, worked with veterans to plant flowers at the Stillwater Veterans Memorial, and volunteered at Carpenter’s Nature Center, as well as helping to deliver Meals on Wheels, and deliver books from the library to the elderly. She participated in the Hastings Women’s Tennis League for several years. Sherry gave her time and energy to all. She had a genuine smile and a huge heart. Integrity and character were always important and there was no obstacle too big to tackle. She loved her students, gardening and plants, jigsaw puzzles, a glass of white wine and a good book, playing bridge, going to the lake, attending her granddaughters’ soccer games, sunsets in Key West, local sports teams and numerous outdoor activities. Sherry’s faith and family came first and she truly relished the time spent with her son, Todd, daughter-in-law Kellie, and granddaughters Collett and Noelle. Sherry is survived by her husband, Bruce, of Hastings; son Todd and his wife Kellie and granddaughters Collett and Noelle of St. Paul, along with sister Kathleen Arnold, brothers Larry (Evonne) and Bruce (Joyce) Shellito, sister-in-law Kathleen Shellito, and sister-in-law Patti Shellito as well as several nieces and nephews. Sherry was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jim Shellito and Harris Shellito, and brother-in-law Ronald Arnold. She will be missed by her faithful companion, Hank. Family and friends are cordially invited to a visitation from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, August 31, 2020, at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion St., Hastings. A PRIVATE Funeral will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at St. Philip's Lutheran Church in Hastings, with a LIVE broadcast on both Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel & St. Philp's Lutheran Church Facebook page starting at 11:00 a.m. Memorials preferred to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, Hastings Family Service, Carpenter’s Nature Center or a charity of your choice.