Shirley Ann Sipe passed away on February 10, 2016 at her home in Spearfish, SD, after a long fight with Ovarian Cancer.
Shirley was born May 28, 1937 to Orval Ladell and Estella Marie (Harris) Banning in Deadwood, SD. In the early 1940's, the family moved to Centennial Valley, east of Spearfish.
Shirley attended school at Black Hills Teachers College Normal School for the first through eighth grade and graduated from Spearfish High School in 1955. She married Don Dewey Sipe on June 3, 1955 in Spearfish. Two children were born of the union, Darrel Donald and Cheryl Sue. Shirley began attending college in 1963, and graduated from Black Hills State College in August of 1966. At that time, she started working at Black Hills State College as a secretary in the Registrar's Office. She held many positions prior to her retirement in 1996, including Accountant, Chief Accountant, Associate Business Manager, and at the time of her retirement was Vice President of Finance and Administration at Black Hills State University.
Shirley was also active in community affairs; she served on the Board and as President for the Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, the Lookout Memorial Hospital Board and as a volunteer for Hospice. She was both Secretary and President of the Spearfish Canyon Country Club Board of Directors, where she was instrumental in the process to add the second nine holes to the golf course. She was Treasurer for the organizing committee for the Relay for Life Cancer Walk, and served on the Business Advisory Counsel for South Dakota Colleges and Universities.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Don Sipe of Spearfish, and their children, Darrel Sipe and Cheryl Sipe both of Aurora, CO; daughter-in-law, Terri Meyer Sipe, and grandchildren, Meghan Sipe and Jacob Sipe. She adored her grandchildren, and often kept them during school holidays. She also loved following them in all of their sporting endeavors; she and Don were avid fans of their sports teams, following them to tournaments all over the United States. Shirley is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Donna Banning of Orange, CA and Cathy Banning of Rapid City, SD, sister-and brother-in-law, Phyllis and James Harvey of Rapid City, SD and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Robert Banning and Jerry Banning.
Shirley had asked that there not be a funeral. A celebration of her life will be held at 4:00pm, Friday, February 19, 2016 at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to benefit Hospice of the Northern Hills.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com