Shirley A. Fishback

Shirley Ann Fishback, 89, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2025, at Prairie Heights Healthcare.

A Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 25, 2025, at Schriver's Memorial Chapel, with Deacon Pete Mehlhaff officiating.

Visitation will be one hour before the service.

Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park following the service.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the burial at Schriver's Memorial Fellowship Center.

The family requests casual attire.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver's website following the service.

Shirley was born in Leola, SD, to Arthur and Ella (Hoeft) Krein on May 31, 1936. She was the oldest of her four siblings. Shirley attended country school and graduated from Leola High School in 1955. Shirley was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Leola and later became a member of St. Mary's Parish in Aberdeen.

On May 21, 1960, Shirley was united in marriage to John Fishback at St Mary's Church in Aberdeen. They made their home in Aberdeen. Together they had three children, Kevin, Lori, and John.

She was a member of St Mary's Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and enjoyed serving at funeral luncheons and the bazaar dinners for many years. She loved volunteering for various local organizations.

She was employed at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator for several years until the closing of the Aberdeen Division. She managed Carrow's Formal Wear, worked at Control Data and retired from Banner Engineering. After retirement Shirley volunteered her time as a para to help students.

Shirley was a Girl Scout Leader for Lori's troop for several years as well as being involved in 4H with her son John. She entered some of her many projects at the Brown County Fair for several years.

She was an avid gardener, always sharing her crops with family and friends, giving gardening tips to her grandchildren, and teaching them how to can their vegetables. Her canned vegetables often traveled to Minnesota and her children's homes. She enjoyed watching NASCAR Racing. She loved baking and enjoyed handing out her goodies at Christmas to family and friends. Her thoughtfulness, compassion, and selflessness touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

She was a Stamp'in Up demonstrator for 15 years, making greeting cards and sharing her creative ideas with her club ladies. Her beautiful sent cards will be cherished forever by her family. Shirley loved being around people.

Shirley cared for her husband, John, and her pup, Bella, until her health failed in 2023. Lori continued caring for both of them until she could no longer. She loved, cared for, and spent much of her time with her grandchildren while they were growing up, and the memories made will always be cherished.

Our mom's kindness and unconditional love for us, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren will always be remembered. She enjoyed traveling for special occasions for the family. Those of us who were blessed to have her as a wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, sister, sister-in-law, and friend knew she had a heart of gold.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Tara Larson for her friendship, dedication, and wonderful care of our mom. Our family is also grateful for the kind and loving care our mother received from the staff at Prairie Heights Healthcare and the Hospice team.

Shirley is survived by her husband, John of 65 years; son Kevin Fishback of Albuquerque, NM; daughter Lori (Cal) Belden of Aberdeen; son John (Carri) Fishback of Elk River, MN; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Karen (Ray) Mehlhoff; and Sister-in-law, Carol Krokel.

Shirley was preceded in death by parents Art and Ella Krein, parental grandparents Ward and Cecilia Fishback; siblings, Joanne (Bob) Baer, Dean (Gail) Krein, and brother-in-law Richard Krokel.