Shirley G. Curtis was born February 1, 1912, in Winnebago, Nebraska, the daughter of George and Sarah (White) Curtis. At the age of three, she moved to Eagle Butte, South Dakota. She grew up in Eagle Butte and graduated from Eagle Butte High School in 1930. She obtained her teaching certificate from Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen. She then taught school in the Eagle Butte and Dupree areas, and later in the Milesville area.
Shirley was united in marriage to Walter L. Staben on May 27, 1940, at the Staben Ranch in the Milesville area. They farmed and ranched all their married life near Milesville. Her husband preceded her in death in 1975. She continued to live on the farm-ranch until moving into Philip. In 2000, she moved to Hot Springs to be close to her family, where she has since resided.
Shirley was a member of the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, and a past member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and Church Bible Study, the Bad River Senior Citizens, and the Philip Area Retired Teachers, all of Philip.
Shirley was an outdoor person, enjoying gardening and raising flowers.
Grateful for having shared her life include one son John Staben and his wife Paulene of Oral; two daughters Sally Khatchatourian of Hot Springs, and Mary Rankin and her husband Jim of Littleton, Colorado; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to her husband Walter, Shirley was preceded in death by one daughter Jeanne Carey; two grandchildren Lloyd Martin Brooks and Tara Khatchatourian; her parents; six brothers Harry, Edgar, John, Vernon, Russell, and Francis Curtis; and three sisters Mary Curtis, Margie Curtis, and Martha Johnson.
Visitation was held one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral services were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Philip, with Pastor Gary Jacobsen offictiating.
Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery, Philip.
A memorial is established to the Bethesda Lutheran School in Hot Springs.
Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip. 

FUNERAL SERVICES
Saturday, March 8, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Philip, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Gary Jacobsen
MUSIC
Marlis Doud – Organist
Rick & Marlis Doud – Vocalists
“Amazing Grace”
“How Great Thou Art”
READER
Denyell Carey
USHERS
Dwayne Newman – Alvin Pearson
PALLBEARERS
Robert Brooks – Dave Curtis
Russel Curtis – Charles Staben
Jeff Staben – Paul Staben
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota