Shirley Fay Eklund

Monday, September 15th, 2025, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend left this world to join her husband and all her loved ones in heaven.
Shirley Fay (Trottier) Eklund was born July 30th, 1935, to John and Annastasia (Gladeau) Trottier in a small house in Bracken, SK, Canada. She grew up with 9 siblings: Lloyd, Laura, Ruth, Joan, Buzz, Dolly, DeDe, Irene and Jerry.
Shirley was raised on a farm in Val Marie. She helped care for the 3,000 horses they had. She always had plenty to do and spoke a lot about the horses she tended to, fed and rode.
During her youth, she had numerous jobs in several areas. She waitressed in Glasgow and Malta, cleaned hotels, the showhouse, and worked as a telephone operator for a company in Moosejaw. She also worked at the Good Samaritan nursing home and cared for elderly patients as a home health care aid.
Even though she had a degree in wastewater management, and was a certified technician, she enjoyed caring for the elderly and helping others. In her later years, she was happiest being a homemaker and staying home with her family.
Shirley met and married the love of her life, George, enjoying each other's company and traveling to see family for the 58 and ½ years they were married. They had 6 children whom she adored and protected: Tracy, Lala, Tim, Coby, Barbie and Misty. Their home was always full of love and laughter. She consistently took time and opportunities to teach about the love and word of God and passing down her experiences, from which to learn invaluable lessons.
Shirley enjoyed praying, attending church, studying her Bible and scriptures, reading, planting and tending to her flowers, spending time with her children and grandchildren, laughing, listening to music, having coffee with friends, rearranging furniture, and making her home as comfortable, safe and inviting as possible.
Their home was always open and welcome to anyone who needed a bed, a good hot meal or prayer. Shirley's 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren were everything to her. She delighted in getting to raise and watch them grow up. Shirley will forever be remembered for her devotion to God, generosity, sweet disposition, laugh, smile, willingness to help, sense of humor, and being the best mother, wife and grandmother ever.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Annastasia (Gladeau) Trottier, husband George, brothers Buzz, Lloyd and Jerry, her sisters Laura, Ruth, Irene, Joan, her sons Coby and Tim, daughter Lala, and her grandson Derek.
Shirley is survived by her son, Tracy Eklund of Malta, daughters, Barbie Kountz (Lincoln) of Glasgow and Misty Geer (Jason) of Havre, her sisters Dolly and Dede, 15 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and relatives, including a stepdaughter that the family would love to meet.
Viewing is Friday, October 10th, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Funeral is Saturday, October 11th, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Both will be held at the Wilderness Funeral Home in Malta Montana.
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