Obituary of Shirley Deon Pfeifle

Shirley Deon Pfeifle (Carr) was born on December 26, 1929 in Belle Fourche, SD to James A. and Fae Marie Carr. A graduate from Spearfish, SD high school at the age of 16, Shirley attended college in Powell, WY and graduated magna cum laude from Yankton College, Yankton, SD in 1950. Her first teaching position brought her to Bennett County High School in Martin, SD, where she met and married her future husband, Albert H. Pfeifle on April 8, 1951 at St. Katharine’s Episcopal Church. To this union was born four children: Katherine, who was born in Trieste, Italy while Shirley lived there with Al during his Army service in the Korean War; Karen; Albert James (Jim); and JoEllen. They lived on their farm in southwestern South Dakota until moving to Sisseton, SD in 1965. Shirley resumed teaching business/office skills courses in 1966-1973 at Sisseton High School. Al’s career in federal service led them to Aberdeen, SD in 1973, to Crystal, MN in 1974, and to Salt Lake City in 1979. When Al retired in 1985 they returned to the Midwest to be near family, first to Elk River, MN, then to St. Cloud, MN in 2006. Shirley made the most of their moves by making new friends, volunteering at church, joining poetry and newcomers groups, reading voraciously about current events, learning calligraphy, helping Al with family genealogy research, and keeping in touch with family and old friends. Al and Shirley’s return to Europe in 1987 was a highlight. Shirley was a quiet person, gentle, loving and kind, with never a complaint. Despite her shyness, she had a boldness of spirit. Shirley passed from this life on October 4, 2017 at Quiet Oaks Hospice House with her family at her side. She leaves the following family to mourn her passing: husband of 66 years, Al, Waite Park, MN; daughter, Kathy, St. Cloud, MN; daughter, Karen, St. Paul, MN; son, Jim (wife, Jackie), Lincoln, NE; and JoEllen (husband, Belvin) Doebbert, Glenwood, MN. Surviving grandchildren include: Shawn (husband, Cody) Hanson, Sisseton, SD; Connor Doebbert, Minneapolis, MN and Gavin Doebbert, Glenwood, MN. Surviving great-grandchildren include Reece, Parker, Kennedy Grace, and Scarlett Jo Hanson of Sisseton, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Fae Carr; and sister, LaVaughn Thornberry. Arrangements are being handled by the Cremation Society of MN. Celebration of Life 11am Saturday, November 18th at ATONEMENT LUTHERAN CHURCH 1144 29th Avenue North Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56303 320-252-6203 Donations may be made to Quiet Oaks Hospice House at PO Box 1241 St. Cloud, MN 56302