Shirley Palmer

Memorial Services & Burial: Will be held at a later date.

Shirley Ann Nelson Palmer was born on March 24th, 1926 in Havre, MT and passed away on March 21st, 2011 at the Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth, MT after a brief illness.

She moved to Forsyth at the age of 17, where she worked at the Beanery as a waitress and later at the Hospital as a Nurses Aide. She was out with a friend one night when Robert (Bud) Palmer walked in the room. She took one look at him and told her friend That is the man I am going to marry! After a whirlwind courtship of 8 days, on December 26th1944, she married her soul mate and love of her life.They moved to Colstrip shortly after Bud was discharged from the Navy, where Bud worked for Foley Brothers Mine. When the mine shut they traveled as Bud worked with the oil rigs for several years. When the mine re-opened they returned to make their home in Colstrip. They were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Gayla Marie, on February 16, 1953.

Shirley opened a Day Care in her Colstrip home and became a surrogate Mom to numerous children in the years she had the Day Care.Shirley was a loving wife, Mother and Aunt. Her family and her faith in God were very important to her. Her favorite hobbies were ceramics, canning, cooking and baking. She put her love of cooking to good use when she was a cook at the Colstrip School. We especially loved her sour cream twists!

She is survived by her husband Bud, Gaylas life partner Donnell Hippie Barstad, special sister-in-law Helen Palmer, numerous nieces and nephews and her many friends and surrogate children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Merton Nelson and Pearl Primm Nelson, sister Pat, brother Bill and daughter Gayla.

Cremation has taken place and services and burial will be held at later date. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth have been entrusted with these arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.