Shirley Ann (Ackerman) Goeller was born on July 27, 1925, in Page, ND, to Christine (McDonald) and Ray Ackerman. She was the oldest of three children and was shaped by strong prairie roots and a determined spirit.
Shirley was raised by her mother, a lifelong educator and one-room schoolteacher who shared her love of learning with students across several local counties. Shirley carried those qualities into her own life as a devoted homemaker and a loving—yet firm—mother. She had a deep appreciation for her surroundings, wherever life took her.
Growing up on a farm with a single mother required resilience, creativity, and ingenuity—traits that became central to Shirley’s character and remained with her throughout her life.
Shirley met the love of her life, Joe Goeller, at the C.H. Carpenter Lumber Company in Valley City, ND. Joe knew at first sight, while Shirley was working there as a skilled bookkeeper. They were married on September 3, 1949, and built a life centered on one another, their four children—Bradley, Julie, Steven, and Lorrie—and their involvement in the local community.
Shirley was an exceptional cook and gardener. She co-managed Shy Soo Nursery for several years, and her green thumb was undeniable—just like her famous frosted oatmeal cookies. Her nurturing spirit showed through her warm hospitality, her care for family and extended family, and her devotion to plants in the greenhouse, as well as her beautifully maintained lawn, shrubs, and flower gardens. She had a gift for gathering meaningful keepsakes and creating a home filled with beauty and cherished items.
She was also a lifelong animal lover and was rarely without a canine companion until her later years.
Shirley outlived many friends and endured the heartbreaking loss of two of her children, Steven and Julie, as well as her beloved husband, Joe. Through it all, her determination, humor, kindness, and humble humanity remained strong until her final days.
She is deeply missed, and her spirit lives on through her family, who cherish the qualities they were fortunate to know and inherit. Her children, Brad and Lorrie, were devoted caregivers during the final decades of her life. She was also lovingly cared for by her granddaughters, Stephanie and Stacie, and her great-granddaughters, Lexi and Kiera, who shared their time, love, and support with Grandma Shirley during the final chapter of her life. Together, they can attest to her Scottish-English-Irish heritage and her steadfast determination—always holding firm to what she believed in and what mattered most to her.
The family would like to thank HIA Hospice of Fargo for their compassionate care of Shirley.
Shirley passed away on January 13, 2026. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, at the Traditions Funeral Services Lerud Mathias Funeral Home Chapel in Valley City. She will be laid to rest at Memory Gardens near Valley City in the spring. An online guestbook is available at www.lerudmathias.com.