Shirley Pfister (Prahl) Jorgensen

Shirley Jorgensen, 76, a Denver resident and native of Great Falls, Montana, passed away on June 30, 2018 after courageously fighting cancer since November of 2016. She is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Robert (Bob) Jorgensen Jr.; daughters Stacey Martinez and Michelle Wretling (Frank Cruz); son, Douglass Prahl (Katie); four grandchildren, Kayla Cubbage, Samuel Wretling, Conner Prahl, Riley Prahl; stepson Eric Jorgensen (Tawnya); and sister Lenora Parkins. She was preceded in death by her sister Betty Kencke in 2017. Shirley grew up helping in her parents’ community grocery store, Pfister Grocery, in Great Falls before earning her BA in English at Montana State University (eventually MA in teaching). Her career was spent teaching junior high and high school in Great Falls until she retired from Charles M. Russell High School in 1992. During her retirement, she and Bob traveled extensively around Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, and several other corners of the world. She also held various volunteer positions around Great Falls and helped support local charitable organizations. In October of 2016, they moved to Denver to be closer to family, but their hearts remained in their hometown of Great Falls. Shirley loved gardening, spending time with loved ones at the family cabin at Seeley Lake, and planning her future travels. The family would like to extend special thanks to Shirley’s caregivers, oncology team, and hospice/nursing home staff for their compassionate care, and also to extended family and friends for their loving help and support throughout her last months. A graveside service for Shirley will take place at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the following are appreciated: Shriners Hospital for Children, Salvation Army of Great Falls, Red Cross of Montana, and the United Way of Cascade County.