Shirley Mae Stevens, 80, of Mandan, N.D., died Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 22, 2016 at First Lutheran Church in Washburn, N.D. with Pastor Erik Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Peace Lutheran Cemetery, rural Beulah, N.D. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn and will continue Friday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.
Shirley was born September 5, 1935 in Readstown, Wis. to Gilbert & Ida (Blok) Nelson. She was raised and educated in Montana. She married Roger Stevens on February 27, 1954 in Great Falls, Mont. They spent their early years in various places in Montana raising their family of six children.
In 1966, Shirley moved to Glendive and spent the next 20 years working and raising her children. She moved to Bismarck, N.D. in 1986.
From 1989 until her retirement in 2012, she waitressed at the Eagles Club in Bismarck. She was very popular and well respected as evidenced by the large retirement party held for her.
The main priority and focus of her life was her children and grandchildren. She loved spending time with each and every one of them. Shirley would always mention how proud of them she was and made each feel as if they were the most important thing in the world. She never let a day go by without saying, “I love you”.
When you had a problem you could always go to her for advice because she was very objective and a good listener. She let you be who you are without question, and was a best friend to all of her children.
Shirley made everyone feel welcome in her home no matter the situation. She would greet you with a smile and a hug and loved giving and receiving those hugs. She held a very kind-hearted spirit and put the needs of others before her own.
In her spare time, Shirley loved to go fishing. During one of her fishing trips she caught 13 fish, so proud of herself she did not realize that the legal limit was 3 fish in possession. She loved to play poker and enjoyed getting in a good game of Pinochle with family members.
Those grateful to have shared in her life include a daughter, Marlene (Robert) Frank of Washburn, N.D; son, David Stevens of Mandan; son, Tom Stevens of Mandan; son, Ray (Fran) Stevens of Lucan, Minn.; daughter, Susan (Terry) Yarns of Central City, Neb.; and son, Tim Stevens of Oroville, Cali.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert Nelson & Ida Schulte; one brother, Conrad Nelson; one sister, Beverly Hawks; and two grandsons, Eric and Aaron Frank.
Provide condolences and sign the guestbook at www.goetzfuneralhomes.com.