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Shirley Lorraine Lindberg |
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July 14, 1925 ~ November 3, 2017 |
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November 16, 2017 |
Shirley Lorraine Lindberg, 92, died November 3,
2017, at home in Naples. She was a member of
Trinity Lutheran Church in Bonners Ferry, and a
memorial service celebrating her life will be
held at the church at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November
21.
Shirley was born on July 14, 1925, in Aberdeen,
South Dakota, to Rexford and Ethyl Ryman.
Shirley spent her first five years on her
grandparent’s farm in Mansfield, South Dakota.
After her father suffered a sun stroke the
family relocated to San Francisco.
Shirley graduated from Galileo High School in
San Francisco and in 1947 graduated from the
University of California at Berkeley with an
English degree. While working for CBS radio as a
promotional writer, Shirley met Edward Smith,
they were married on August 15, 1948. Edward
went on to become the art director for ABC, the
very first San Francisco Television station.
Shirley would tell the story of being in a
crowded room at ABC together viewing for the
first time a small 12-inch black and white TV.
After her husband died suddenly in 1964, widowed
at 38 with two teenage children, Scott Bradford,
14, and Laurie Kathleen, 12, Shirley returned to
college and obtained her teaching degree. She
went on to teach fifth and sixth grade in Palo
Alto, California, for 23 years.
During those years Shirley met and fell in love
with fellow teacher, John Lindberg, and they
married in 1971. Together Shirley and John
started a private summer backpacking program
called "Eureka on High" for middle school
students. For nine summers they took students
backpacking into the High Sierras, most for
their first time.
Shirley not only planned and organized all camp
meals, she washed and dried all the down
sleeping bags at the conclusion of each trip! On
one trip she had to be carried out after she
broke her heel walking across melting snow.
Upon retiring as teachers they both yearned for
family and the mountains. Moving to Naples and
building a log home near family brought them
exceeding joy through their golden years.
Shirley and John helped establish soccer as a
certified high school sport in Boundary County.
They also built and ran a Fitness Center, giving
Bonners Ferry the first of two soccer fields.
Shirley was always behind the scenes meeting the
needs for both business and soccer all the while
keeping her teaching heart alive by mentoring in
the elementary and middle schools.
As “Nana” to five grandchildren and 12
great-grandchildren, she imparted her love of
reading. Each birthday and Christmas present
always included a book along with a toy.
Putting others first was Shirley’s way. Her
personal happiness was fulfilled as she
witnessed the successes and joys of those around
her.
This was only confirmed by the handwritten card
found in her purse saying, “The purpose of life
is not to be happy — but to matter, to be
responsible, to be productive, to be useful, to
help others, to have it make a difference that
you have lived at all.” — C.H. Bond
Shirley is survived by her daughter and
son-in-law, Laurie and Michael Naumann, Naples,
grandchildren Coral Branson, Jasper Naumann,
Mark Naumann, Jesse Smith and Lindsey Smith
LaRock, sister Dorothy Cole of Texas, brother
Roger Ryman of Colorado, daughter-inlaw Jan
Soloy (Smith) of Washington and 12
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edward
Smith, son Scott Smith and husband John
Lindberg. |
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