Shirley Ann Leben

Shirley Ann Leben, 81, of Bismarck, went home to be with her Heavenly Father the morning of August 19, 2019.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 23, at McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 N 6th St, Bismarck, ND. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 22 at McCabe United Methodist Church, 1030 N 6th St, Bismarck, ND, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Shirley was born February 10, 1938, at Hebron, North Dakota to John and Elda Wilhelmina (Imhoff) Martin. She was raised and educated in Hebron, and graduated from Hebron High School in 1955. Shirley moved to Bismarck after graduation, and worked for the State Health Department until 1958. On June 2, 1957, Shirley married Leonard Leben at Hebron. From 1971 until 1976, she worked with the hot lunch program at Will-Moore Elementary School, then did secretarial work for Gordon’s Standard Gas Station for one year. She was secretary for the Burleigh County Auditor’s Office from 1977 until 1994, then was an office worker at Dakota Skies Bingo until 1999. Shirley enjoyed children, so she was proud to work as a Foster Grandparent at Bismarck Public Elementary Schools and loved being referred to as Grandma Shirley. 

Shirley was a member of McCabe United Methodist Church, VFW Auxiliary, and Eagles Auxiliary Ritual Team. She felt it important to be involved in her community, and volunteered many hours as a leader for the Boy and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Brownies. She also volunteered for the Rape Crisis Center, was a facilitator for Beginning Experience, and a board member of Parents without Partners. Perhaps her devoted care for others resulted in her belief in treating people with kindness, living life to the best of one’s ability, and living each day as if it were the last one. She loved spending time with her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She enjoyed bowling, bingo, reading, camping, working crossword puzzles and watching her favorite game shows, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud. She will truly be missed by all for her quick wit, loving spirit, tireless devotion to family and friends, and of course those wonderful meals that she loved preparing for guests. Who could ever forget her homemade Chicken & Dumplings, Knoephla Soup, Banana Bread, Fleischkuchle, and Kuchen.

Shirley is survived by her children, Kurt (Tamera) Leben, Lori (Andrew) Krance, Leann (Jeremy) Holkan, and Kelly (Stacey) Leben; grandchildren, Jennifer Krance, Nathaniel (Laura) Leben, Cole Leben, Jeremy Krance, Stephanie (Tony) Anderson, Jessie (Zech) Grenz, Cambrie (Jacob) Gerdes, Skyler Holkan, and Courtney Leben; great grandchildren Bentley, Beya, and Brynley Anderson, and one Grenz great-grandchild, due in February; her sisters, Adele Sailer and Eileen Baesler; brother and sisters-in-law, Roger (Donna) Martin, Grace Martin, and Cleta Martin; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Mildred Kindsvogel; and four brothers, Walter, Marvin, Gordon, and Norbert Martin.