Shirley Wambeke

Shirley Frances Wambeke died on January 23, 2018 in Three Forks, Montana surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 21, 1936 to Charles and Virginia (Miller) Delaney in Lewistown, Montana. The family lived on the Bar LC Ranch northwest of Lewistown. She attended a country grade school and graduated from St. Leo's High School in Lewistown in 1954. Shirley moved to Billings in 1956, and worked at Hart Albins Department Store. Shirley married Tom Wambeke on August 24, 1957. They had five children. The family moved to Butte in 1968, then returned to Billings in 1973. Shirley worked in the food service for School District #2 for 21 years. She moved to Three Forks in the summer of 2017. She loved to bake and thrived being surrounded by generations of family members, especially the babies. She was a long-time member of St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral in Billings and a faithful and humble servant of Christ. She gave of herself to others, particularly her family, and was a treasured friend. If you knew her, you loved her. She is survived by her three sisters Virginia (Gene) Pigeon of Fargo, ND, Patricia Barnes of Billings, and Daisy (Rob Kellner) Delaney of Phoenix; five children, Ronald (Maureen) Wambeke of Billings, Carol (Augusto de la Torre) Wambeke of McLean, Virginia, Charles (Tina) Wambeke and Gary (Julie) Wambeke of Three Forks, and Joanne Wambeke of Denver; eleven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her brother, Charles Jerome (“Jerry”) Delaney and parents, Charles and Virginia Delaney, and husband, Thomas Wambeke. Visitation will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings beginning Thursday 9-8 January 25, 2018, with vigil at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2018. Funeral Liturgy service will be held at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. Rite of Committal will be in Billings Mountview Cemetery at a later date. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Shirley F. Wambeke memorial ice cream fund (c/o Chuck Wambeke, P.O. Box 863, Three Forks, MT 59752) for residents of Pathways Assisted Living where Shirley most recently resided.