Shirley Ann Bischler Stef was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to Vera and August Bischler on June 26, 1946. Her first home was on a small farm in the district of Silver grove Saskatchewan where her first memories were of sitting in a rocking chair where she would play footsies with “angels” that always appeared on the floor!! This was the shadows and sunlight coming in the home, but she fully believed she was with angels. Shirley was a true follower of Christ, from her first memory through all of her days.
She loved all the farm animals other than Tom the turkey who loved to terrorize people and chased them until her dad built a fence around the old farmhouse to keep her safe. Sister Edie was born two years later, and the youngest in the family was Sister Dixie. Their mom would dress them in handmade clothing that made them feel very fashionable. They played dress up and enjoyed the outdoors making mud pies for their dolls or cats who did not really appreciate their chef skills. Shirleys Dad August and his brothers along with neighbors built the local Church where they played among the gravestones. This church stands to this day as a Saskatchewan historical site! Shirley's dad then sold their tiny farm and bought 3/4 section just outside Leask Saskatchewan where there was a small old log house for them to call home and a bunkhouse for the hired men. August built a 3-bedroom house which allowed her and her two sisters to have a shared room in a home which felt like a palace … schooling was in Leask the next eleven years which she remembers the importance her parents felt about education as they rode to school in a heated caboose even during the Saskatchewan blizzards. Shirley was mostly interested in things like drama and preparing school yearbooks but did manage to win a curling jacket for her team’s effort! She also won first prize for her doll carriage dressed like the queen for the coronation; thanks to her mom’s talents!
August then decided to sell the farm and move to Saskatoon where Shirley completed grade 12 and took the Teachers Diploma course and began her teaching career in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan staying in the attic of a boarding house with a hot plate clearing a whole $199 a month for wages. She finished that year then moved to Alsask Saskatchewan where she taught Grade one at the Department of National Defence school. It was a happy year with many friends, and she then moved on to teach Grade 5 at a Department of National Defence school in Cold Lake. Where she met her first husband Carl. They were married in January of 68 and she settled into the life of a squadron wife and moved to Larh Germany.
Christy her daughter was born in Germany and spent some time in a 30-pound cast from waist down but the help of squadron friends she managed that baby girls care … even managing a ski trip to Ober Lech in Austria! Military Postings saw them go to Moose Jaw – where her son Ryan was born then on to Ottawa and Cold Lake. Shirley then returned to University in Saskatoon where she completed her Teaching Degree and moved back to Cold Lake where she taught Kindergarten and raised her two children.
Once her children moved to Edmonton for University and College, Shirley taught school for a year at Chilliwack East Elementary school in BC. The rain drove her back to sunny Alberta and Cold Lake where she continued to teach in Cold Lake and be close to many dear friends. Shirley then moved onto a farm by Fort Assiniboine, Alberta and taught school in Swan Hills and then Fort Assiniboine. Shirley loved the years on the farm especially when her family was able to spend time visiting, hunting and feasting on the meals, desserts and snacks she loved to prepare.
Again, Shirley moved back to Cold Lake – and onto an acreage in Cherry Grove. She continued to teach at the Department of National Defence schools until she transitioned to full time gardener, church worker, canner, cook, neighbor gatherer, fisherman and volunteer at the food bank.
In 2024 Shirley moved into a condo in Lethbridge. This gave her the opportunity to spend more time with family in Southern Alberta. Shirley was diagnosed with terminal cancer on April 9, 2026. Previous to this she loved getting at least her 10,000 steps in a day, yoga and swimming in her condo pool. This diagnosis was a shock for sure but not once did Shirley complain or fear the end of life. Shirley spent the last two months living with her son and daughter-in-law and thought that every day she saw another sunrise was a gift. Shirley was a pure example of keeping her faith, sharing her testimony of the Savior, and enduring to the End.
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She loved all the farm animals other than Tom the turkey who loved to terrorize people and chased them until her dad built a fence around the old farmhouse to keep her safe. Sister Edie was born two years later, and the youngest in the family was Sister Dixie. Their mom would dress them in handmade clothing that made them feel very fashionable. They played dress up and enjoyed the outdoors making mud pies for their dolls or cats who did not really appreciate their chef skills. Shirleys Dad August and his brothers along with neighbors built the local Church where they played among the gravestones. This church stands to this day as a Saskatchewan historical site! Shirley's dad then sold their tiny farm and bought 3/4 section just outside Leask Saskatchewan where there was a small old log house for them to call home and a bunkhouse for the hired men. August built a 3-bedroom house which allowed her and her two sisters to have a shared room in a home which felt like a palace … schooling was in Leask the next eleven years which she remembers the importance her parents felt about education as they rode to school in a heated caboose even during the Saskatchewan blizzards. Shirley was mostly interested in things like drama and preparing school yearbooks but did manage to win a curling jacket for her team’s effort! She also won first prize for her doll carriage dressed like the queen for the coronation; thanks to her mom’s talents!
August then decided to sell the farm and move to Saskatoon where Shirley completed grade 12 and took the Teachers Diploma course and began her teaching career in Shellbrook, Saskatchewan staying in the attic of a boarding house with a hot plate clearing a whole $199 a month for wages. She finished that year then moved to Alsask Saskatchewan where she taught Grade one at the Department of National Defence school. It was a happy year with many friends, and she then moved on to teach Grade 5 at a Department of National Defence school in Cold Lake. Where she met her first husband Carl. They were married in January of 68 and she settled into the life of a squadron wife and moved to Larh Germany.
Christy her daughter was born in Germany and spent some time in a 30-pound cast from waist down but the help of squadron friends she managed that baby girls care … even managing a ski trip to Ober Lech in Austria! Military Postings saw them go to Moose Jaw – where her son Ryan was born then on to Ottawa and Cold Lake. Shirley then returned to University in Saskatoon where she completed her Teaching Degree and moved back to Cold Lake where she taught Kindergarten and raised her two children.
Once her children moved to Edmonton for University and College, Shirley taught school for a year at Chilliwack East Elementary school in BC. The rain drove her back to sunny Alberta and Cold Lake where she continued to teach in Cold Lake and be close to many dear friends. Shirley then moved onto a farm by Fort Assiniboine, Alberta and taught school in Swan Hills and then Fort Assiniboine. Shirley loved the years on the farm especially when her family was able to spend time visiting, hunting and feasting on the meals, desserts and snacks she loved to prepare.
Again, Shirley moved back to Cold Lake – and onto an acreage in Cherry Grove. She continued to teach at the Department of National Defence schools until she transitioned to full time gardener, church worker, canner, cook, neighbor gatherer, fisherman and volunteer at the food bank.
In 2024 Shirley moved into a condo in Lethbridge. This gave her the opportunity to spend more time with family in Southern Alberta. Shirley was diagnosed with terminal cancer on April 9, 2026. Previous to this she loved getting at least her 10,000 steps in a day, yoga and swimming in her condo pool. This diagnosis was a shock for sure but not once did Shirley complain or fear the end of life. Shirley spent the last two months living with her son and daughter-in-law and thought that every day she saw another sunrise was a gift. Shirley was a pure example of keeping her faith, sharing her testimony of the Savior, and enduring to the End.
Click to Send Condolences to the Family