October 25, 1934 ~ April 25, 2021
Shirley Valerius 86 year old Woodward resident, passed away on Sunday April 25 in Oklahoma City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday April 29, 2021 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel in Woodward. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday April 30, 2021 in the Hoisington City Cemetery in Hoisington, Kansas. Visitation will be held at the Billings Funeral Home on Wednesday April 28, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Shirley Ann (Thompson) Valerius was born on October 25, 1934 in Salina, Kansas to Benjamin "Ben" Harold and Fern Blanche (Latimer) Thompson. She grew up in the Hoisington, Kansas area and later graduated from Hoisington High School. On May 8th, 1956 Shirley married the love of her life Gary Neil Valerius in Hoisington at the Trinity Baptist Church. The couple made their first home in Great Bend, Kansas and later moved to Medicine Lodge, Hoisington, Liberal, Perryton, Texas, and later settled in Woodward. They were blessed with two children, Denise and Reg.
Shirley worked as a bank teller for the Great Bend Bank and a movie theater. Once her children were born Shirley stayed home and attended to the children. After her children were grown, she returned to the banking industry and worked at the Bank of Woodward for over 30 years. Shirley enjoyed making crafts, attending to her flower beds and her tomato and strawberry patches, fishing, spending time at the lake, and playing Skipbo. Shirley took great pride in keeping an immaculate yard. Her front and back yard often looked as though it belonged in a magazine. Shirleys greatest joys were her family and her flowers.
She was a member of the Red Hat Society. Shirley was also a member of the First Christian Church as well as Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church. Shirley enjoyed visiting different churches especially during the holidays when the sanctuaries were decorated for Christmas.
Shirley is survived by her son, Reg Valerius and wife Cris of Oklahoma City; daughter, Denise Hileman and husband Richard of Yukon; brother, Benny Thompson of Hoisington; grandchild, Jerod Bridenstine and wife Rachel of Yukon; bonus grandchildren, Brandon Hileman and wife Jessica of El Reno, Kade Hileman of El Reno, Brooke Hileman of El Reno, Mallory Graff and husband Jason of Oklahoma City, and Shelby Pryor of Oklahoma City; seven great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Fern Thompson; spouse, Gary Valerius; and sister, Connie Thompson.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with the Billings Funeral Home accepting contributions.
Interment: Hoisington City Cemetery
415 East 9th Street
Hoisington,
Ks 67544