Shirley M. Wells

Hartington — Shirley Mae Wells, 89, of Hartington, formerly of Lynch, died Monday, March 11, 2024 at 2:48 p.m. at Arbor Care Center in Hartington.

Visitation was held Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Lynch Community Hall in Lynch.

Funeral services were held Friday, March 15, 2024 at the hall in Lynch. 

Pallbearers were Robert Wayne Wells, Bill Wells, Damon Nabity, Alex Seim, Jared Burbach and Jason Nabity.  

Honorary pallbearers were Shirley's grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Burial was in the Scottville Cemetery in rural O'Neill.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington was in charge of the arrangements.

Shirley was born in rural Redbird, on what was known as the old Hall Place, to Howard and Amy (Maddox) Slack on Dec. 15, 1935. Shirley moved with her folks and siblings, older brother Irvin and younger sister Joy, to the Slack Homestead Place when she was around four years old. She attended country school District 32 through the eighth grade, then went on to Lynch Public School graduating in 1953. 

Shirley taught school at the Minola School in Holt County from 1953 to 1955. 

She was a member of the Dorsey Community Church for many years.

Lyle and Shirley were married at the Methodist Church in Lynch on Aug. 15, 1954. To this reunion three children were born. They made their home on the old Marshall place northwest of Dorsey. From there, they moved just down the road to the Joe Cihlar place and lived there from 1957 to 1960. Lyle and Shirley then moved back to Shirley's childhood place of the Slack homestead to help her parents, Howard and Amy, on the farm. Lyle and Shirley purchased the place in 1976. Lyle and Shirley moved off the farm to O'Neill in 2017. In February of 2022 they made the move to Hartington to be closer to family.

Shirley left behind her legacy of love that will never be forgotten by her family and friends. She will always be remembered by her unique stories, homemade bread, dill and sweet pickles, her canning abilities and homemade noodles. 

Shirley is survived by her husband Lyle of 69 years of Hartington; three children Susan Nabity/ Johnson of Monroe, SD, Donna Derickson/ Burbach (Pat Burbach) of Hartington, and David (Michelle) Wells of Grand Island; nin grandchildren Josh (Michelle) Derickson of Saint Helena, Jason Nabity and  Keri Nabity, both of Sioux Falls, SD, Janelle (Anthony) Seim of Aurora, Tracy (Ron) Jakubowski of Wood River, Jared (Emily) Burbach of Mankato, MN, Samantha Villela of Alaska, Devin Zaugg and Hannah Zaugg, both of Grand Island; 11 great-grandchildren Eric (Samantha) Derickson, Michaela Derickson, Samantha Nabity, Damon Nabity, Alex Seim, Zachary Seim, Julia Jakubowski, Mary Grace Burbach, Kailen Hanson, Kason Hanson and Aven Hanson; four great-great-grandchildren Loretta, Marshall, Weston and Remi Derickson; one sister Joy Horn of Fremont; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parent, one brother Irvin Slack, one brother-in-law Jerry Horn and her father- and mother-in-law Clifford and Lala Wells.