Sharin Marie Liedle

Sharin Marie Liedle

Dec. 6, 1941 - March 11, 2023

HELENA - As each snowflake is cut, beautifully unique from the rest, Sharin Marie Liedle arrived and left on the wings of angels behind the translucent veil of heaven's glistening snowflakes. Sharin not only arrived surrounded by the cold and snow on December 6, 1941, but with the most severe form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele. Despite doctors limiting her life expectancy to a year or less due to her birth defect, Sharin proved otherwise as reflected by the "dash" between her date of birth, December 6, 1941, and her transformation dance with the angels on a snowy March 11, 2023. According to our math calculations, she lived 80 more years than was expected.

Reflecting her strong will to live and fierce determination, she endured surgeries - first to close her spinal canal, and later to strengthen her legs. As a toddler Sharin was fitted with braces, and using a pair of crutches she learned to walk. Treatment was limited in the 1940s and spina bifida is not curable, but despite the limitations presented, Sharin embraced every obstacle as a normal milestone.

As soon as her sister Carrolle was able to enroll in school, Sharin was excited and ready for school also. With the constant help and loving encouragement of her younger sister, Carrolle, she attended Bryant Elementary School, Helena Junior High, followed by Helena High. As Carrolle went off to college, Sharin enrolled at Helena Business College on 6th Avenue. After holding several clerical positions, first at Foley's Mill, the Leo Pocha Clinic and finally for the State of Montana, she retired in 1984, due to an extended illness.

At 19, Sharin was determined to learn to knit so she bought a "how-to" book and spent the next 20 years alongside her mother creating beautiful gifts of love by knitting vests, sweaters and blankets for all her nieces, nephews, and friends. At 27, she purchased a new Ford Maverick from friend Ralph Anderson at his Helena Ford dealership. No was not a word in her vocabulary as her commitment to learning to drive became complete when she had her new car outfitted with hand controls and cajoled a local driver's education instructor to teach her. By the way, she didn't even let her parents in on her secret until the deal was done! To say she was a force to be reckoned with was already defined by her birth date and defiance of her birth defect.

With a size XXL heart, Sharin embraced all animals of the world; wild, domestic, two-legged and four-legged. Despite being unable to have her own children, she loved all babies. She happily spoiled her nieces and nephews and could also be found volunteering at Shodair Children's Hospital to help feed and cuddle sick babies. Sharin consistently visited the Fish Wildlife and Parks Animal Hospital and Refuge to see bear, fox, antelope, deer, and a cougar in rehab. Finally, her own fur-babies, Buttercup, Sunni and Chance knew no mother more devoted.

Sharin's claim-to-fame was her friendship with Lawrence Welk and tap dancer Arthur Duncan. She met both entertainers in person at a performance in Great Falls. She became a lifelong fan, committing every Saturday night to the Lawrence Welk Show on television. Later Carrolle drove Sharin and her parents to the Aragon Ballroom in California to see them, and Sharin was greeted by Lawrence Welk! He remembered her!

Residing in the family home at 1802 Boulder Avenue, for nearly 75 years, Sharin even lived there solo, with only her beloved dogs, after her mother's death in 1996 - with a bit of help from family and friends. In October 2016, she developed a severe blood infection leading to the amputation of her left ankle and foot. Unable now to care for herself, she moved to her final earthly home at the Big Sky Care Center (now known as Mount Ascension).

Sharin was preceded in death by her parents, David and Mary Lou Liedle; half-brother, Douglas Liedle; brother, Lester Liedle; sister, Dianne Shultz; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and her three precious dogs.

Surviving are Sharin's dear sister, Carrolle and husband, Ed; her brother, David and wife Jane; brother, Ted; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her cherished friend and helper, Phyllis Lamping. We will always remember her laughter, joy of life, and her stubborn ability to do exactly what she wanted.

There are no services planned at this time, but a Celebration of Life will be held July 22, 2023.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation please consider The March of Dimes, the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, or any animal foundation of your choice.

Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Sharin.