Shirley Wilhelmina Reiten Spencer, 85

Shirley Wilhelmina Reiten Spencer, 85, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Oct. 13th, 2011, with her family at her side. 

Shirley was born in Great Falls on July 30, 1926. She was the only child of Hans and Lucy Reiten.

At the age of 6, Shirley met her best friend Jeanne when the Spencer family moved in next door. It was not until several years later that Jeanne’s older brother, Joe, took Shirley on their first date while home on leave from the Navy.

Shirley attended college in Oregon while Joe continued with Naval training. The couple corresponded via letters while Joe was stationed in Australia, the Philippines, and Hawaii, and were married on Oct. 15, 1945 in Shelby.

Joe and Shirley moved to the Columbia Falls area in 1946 when Joe took a job working for the Bureau of Reclamation at Hungry Horse Dam.

The couple’s first son, David, was born in 1947, Stephen followed in 1949, and Bob in 1954.

Over the years, Shirley worked in Columbia Falls and coached junior bowling leagues. She grew up spending a lot of time in Glacier Park and enjoyed camping and picnicking there with family throughout her life.

After Joe’s death in 2009, Shirley continued to live in their apartment in Columbia Falls. She moved to the Lutheran home in August of this year. In the last few years, Shirley took particular joy in being a great-grandmother.

Shirley is survived by three sons, David, Stephen and wife Peggy, and Bob and wife Cathy; seven grandchildren, Corinne, Jessica and Marcelle Wood, Ross and Lindsey Spencer, Callie, Cami, Tim, and Megan; great grandchildren, Autumn and Lucy; and many nieces and nephews of the Burnham family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

You are invited to go to www.columbiamortuary.com to offer condolences and view Shirley’s tribute wall.

Arrangements are entrusted to Columbia Mortuary.