Charles O Shipley

Charles Oscar Shipley, age 97, left this earthly realm, November 30, 2017, on his Eagle Flight to Heaven, with a smile on his face, and a thankful heart. Services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, December 5, at the Steele United Methodist Church, with Rev. Steve Behrens officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Monday, December 4, at Eastgate-Steele Memorial Chapel, where a prayer service will begin at 6:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Military graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Charles was born July 9, 1920, in Bismarck, ND, youngest son of Fred J. and Effie A. (Whitney) Shipley, Steele, ND, He sprung cowboy boots at a young age, riding and working cattle round ups, and learning the ropes of farming/ranching. Charles said, “I had a horse named Babe. I rode him to Allen School (Kidder County). He would do tricks … lie down and sit up like a dog.” During WW 2 in Italy, Charles saw a Percheron, a large draft horse, alone in a field. The fact that Charles’ dad always had a French Percheron stallion used for breeding workhorses, made it easy for Charles to fearlessly catch that horse and ride it. In 1948 Charles bought and trained a horse named Trigger, a favorite that his children learned to ride on. Charles attended Steele High School, staying & working at the Steele Ozone. He graduated in 1938. During school play days, Charles, a chin-up champ, won blue ribbons doing 38 or 39 consecutively. He practiced with a chin-up bar in the Shipley barn where years later, he set up one for his kids. Charles would often wrestle one of his classmates for fun. He challenged others to a good arm wrestling contest, which he usually won. He was known for his strong handshake. Charles attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, working at Gaffaney & Shipley. He later was employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. Military Service: Sgt. Shipley served 39 months in the US Army, 1942-1945. Charles utilized his skills and experience with the NP as a signal man. He laid over 2000 miles of wire for communication lines on the 5th Army Front for the 91st Signal Company, stationed in North Africa and Italy. He carried his rifle and often rode in a 2½ ton truck that pulled the wire out. The war in Europe finally ended and Charles was sent on toward Japan on a British merchant marine ship. While in the Indian Ocean in route to the Philippines, the A (atomic) bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. The Japanese continued to drop depth charges (50 gallon barrels) into the ocean. They also had fast destroyers, which were faster than the ship Charles was on. “Something happened to the ship. We had no water. We ran out in the boilers. We were sittin’ ducks for a while,” Charles said. From Japan, only a few miles from Hiroshima, he wrote a long letter home that was printed by the Steele Ozone, where he used to work during High School. A few close calls Charles survived: 1. In the desert near Mt. Hood, Charles opened his bedding to find a tarantula inside. 2. Charles nearly drowned twice while swimming in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of North Africa. 3. In Italy Charles gave blood. The same day he climbed a cross bar pole, and nearly fainted. 4. On the farm a harrow tine went clear through his foot causing severe infection. Military Awards: *Victory European-African -Middle Eastern Service Medal, American Theater Medal, Asiatic -Pacific Theater Medal, Sharpshooter M1 Rifle & Marksman Carbine, Good Conduct Medal. Charles returned home where he again worked of the NP. October 1946, at a dance near Moffit, Charles met the Love of His Life, Tillie Pfeifer. That night he took her duck hunting. Her beauty, creativeness, giving heart and especially her good cooking, were perfect for him. They were married May 31, 1947. Charles and Tillie raised range and dairy cattle and farmed on the Shipley home place north of Steele for 70 years. He was a member of the Steele United Methodist Church for over 70 years and especially enjoyed the many Bible studies that he and Tillie took part in. His hands were often folded in prayer in concern for our troops, and those sick and hurting. He was an American Legion member 50+ years. His Honor Flight honoring WW2 veterans to Washington DC was a highlight of Charles’ life. Charles’ patriotism, respect of the flag, and involvement in supporting our veterans, never wavered. Charles’ expert marksmanship came in handy on the farm when coyotes or a wild dog pack tried to take his newborn calves, or, when rabbits, badgers, skunks, fox, etc. came to raid the garden or get their chickens. He was a crackpot shot. He served as Allen Township Treasurer 65+ Years, was on the Steele Farmers Elevator Board and the Farmers & Merchants Oil Company Board of Directors, was ND 1964 State Champion Bowler Family Twosome, Crown Lanes League Bowling Championships and member of the Steele Senior Center. He enjoyed playing pinochle, gin rummy, throwing horseshoes, bowling and about any fun game and gathering with friends, neighbors and relatives. Charles was a hardworking man of high character, integrity, courage, honesty and wisdom who loved people and a good laugh. His pockets were often filled with candy, lifesavers, popcorn or salted in the shell peanuts. He would offer candy just so he could have one and how he loved doughnuts, pumpkin pie, strawberry shortcake, corn on the cob and baked potato with LOTS of butter, and a good steak. Charles is survived by his four children, Linda (Wes) Vettel, Kathy (Lenny) Schlabach, John (Laura) Shipley, Mark (Jackie) Shipley; 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Charles was preceded in death by his wife Tillie, May 21, 2017; two granddaughters (Tasha Marie Vettel & Lisa Renee Shipley), his brothers Art and Howard Shipley and his sister Pearl Shipley Andre.