Shirley M. Dillman, of McIntosh, passed away at Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center in Aberdeen,
SD on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the age of 92 years, 10 months, 14 days.

Shirley Mae Umber was born on November 16, 1927 in McIntosh, SD to Silas and Rose (Pank0) Umber.  She was raised on the farm northwest of Selfridge, ND along with her siblings.  She attended a local country school, high school in Selfridge and then came to McIntosh for her senior year graduating from McIntosh High School at age 17 in 1945.  She then attended college at Valley City, ND.  She earned her teaching certificate there and began teaching in country schools that following fall.

On June 3, 1946, Shirley married the love of her life Peter Dillman in McIntosh, SD.  Together they brought into this world six children; Timmy, Terry, Tommy, Teddy, Tammy, and Todd.  They lived their entire lives in the Walker area except for the two winters they lived in the Black Hills early on in their marriage.

After all the kids were in school, Shirley began teaching again working many years at the Bullhead School, then several years in the McIntosh School as a Title 1 tutor and assistant librarian.  She then went back to Bullhead to assist with the library and reading classes.  Later on she was a substitute teacher.

In 1990, when Pete’s health began to fail, Shirley started working at the Corson County Courthouse with the SDSU for the Extension Office as a Nutrition Assistant.  She retired in July of 2004.

Shirley’s beloved Pete lost his battle with cancer on November 22, 1995. Shirley continued to live at the farm they had built together from scratch eleven more years.  She loved her horses, loved the house she designed, loved all the trees her and Pete planted, her fish pond and the beautiful deck her son Tommy built.

In 2006, Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to sell the farm.  She lived in McLaughlin less than a year and then moved to a little farm a mile south of McIntosh where she remained the rest of her days.  She was very active in The American Legion Auxilary, all the McIntosh School Reunions, school activities and St. Bonaventure Catholic Church where she sang in the choir for many years.  She love to can and was especially known for her dill pickles.  She was a great cook.

Shirley won her battle with breast cancer and was in remission for thirteen years until August of 2019 when she was told the cancer was back.  She fought a courageous battle.  Even after losing her husband and four sons and now getting cancer for a second time, she never lost her faith.  Her biggest highlights in the past year was seeing two great granddaughters being baptized, her granddaughter Tessa getting married, visiting on Memorial Day 2020 at Black Hills National Cemetery, celebrating her great granddaughter Lola Mae’s first birthday, being able to attend the McIntosh Alumni in July when she celebrated 75 years out of high school and the oldest graduate to ever attend, and going to Gillette the very end of July for Teddy’s birthday.  In September she was able to see the Medora Musical one last time.

Grateful for having shared her life are her son, Teddy Dillman, Gillette, WY; daughter, Tammy Dillman, McIntosh, SD; daughter-in-law, Amalia Dillman, Mexico; 19 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 1 great great granddaughter; her brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Marilyn Umber, McIntosh, SD; brother-in-law, Walter Schott, Arizona; two sisters-in-law, Mary Dillman, Walker, SD; Pauline Dillman, Mandan, ND; and several nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Pete; four sons, Timmy on January 15, 1985; Terry on April 9, 2017; Tommy on August 19, 2020; Todd on November 14, 1994; grandson, Timmy Dillman Jr.; two daughters-in-law, Sharon Dillman and Diane Dillman; five sisters, Selma (Gerald) Dutton; Sylvia Umber; Lola Schott; Dorrey and Josephine Umber; two brothers, Sila Jr. (Ann) Umber and baby Umber.

A special thank you to Lila and Robert Fischer, Community Kicking Cancer, Melissa Day and Connie Maier at the McIntosh Clinic for going above and beyond to care for mom; and Aberdeen Sanford Medical Center for the excellent care and to Sherry Little Bear and Margaret Agard for the beautiful Star Quilt.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30pm MT Saturday, October 10, 2020 at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in McIntosh, SD with Fr. Dan Juelfs, officiating.  The service will be live streamed on the funeral home website www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com

Burial will be on Monday, October 12, 2020 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon with a Rosary Service at 6:30PM MT Friday evening at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.

A memorial has been established and cards can be mailed to Tammy Dillman, PO Box 32, McIntosh, SD 57641.

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