Shirley Louise Heil, 80, “received her angels wings” on Tuesday, May 9, when she passed away peacefully with her family by her side.
Shirley was born on Dec. 7, 1936, in a farmhouse in Elkton, South Dakota, to Lyle and Frieda (Engelbrecht) Hummel. Shirley was the second born of five children. When Shirley was 12 her family moved west to Kalispell where her father took a job working on the Hungry Horse Dam. She attended school in Kalispell until graduating from Flathead High School in 1954.
Shirley met and fell in love with Max Heil and they were married on Jan. 29, 1955. Max and Shirley were blessed with three children, Jill Louise, Maxine (Mickey) Lavern, and Ronald Leslie.
Shirley’s love of antiquing led her and Max to open the White Elephant antique store. She enjoyed it for many years until her retirement. She continued to share her love of garage saling and collecting antiques with her grandchildren for many years.
Shirley loved to bowl, and did so for several years. Her favorite things to do to pass time were reading and working her crosswords. Shirley loved her family dearly and was greatly entertained by her great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchild. She was very proud to let everyone know she was a “great-great.”
Shirley was the heart and soul of her family and had a way of making everyone feel like they were her favorite. She will be deeply missed by her family and anyone blessed to have known her.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Max Heil, daughter Jill Marsh, and two sisters Marilyn Minikus, and Lolly Powell.
She is survived by her two children Mickey Heil, and Ron (Paula) Heil, both of Kalispell; six grandchildren, Kendra (Tim) McAnally, Amy Benson, Ryan Benson, Kelly (Mack) Dittmer, Eric Heil all of Kalispell and Jen (Adam) Heil of Fairmont, Minnesota; 12 great-grandchildren, Mattison, Ashton, and Sophie McAnally, Tailer, Logan, and Colton Benson, Caleb, and Jaidee Benson, Eli and Payden Dittmer, Ayren Heil, and Makhenna Hill; and one great-great-grandchild Izelee Purdom; two brothers Lyle (Bud) Hummel and John Hummel.
At the request of Shirley there will be no services.