Shirley Buck

Shirley Anne Buck, age 87 of Litchfield passed away peacefully on January 24, 2024 at Harmony River in Hutchinson, MN.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday February 2, 2024 at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield, MN.  A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at church.  Interment will be held at Ripely Cemetery, Litchfield, MN. 

Shirley Anne Oestreich was born on April 22nd 1936 to Walter and Alice (McNellis) Oestreich in Grove City, MN. She grew up on the farm helping out with the family chores and attended school in Grove City graduating in 1954. On October 17, 1959 Shirley was united in marriage to Bernell Buck at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Lake Lillian. They made their home in Cosmos. On December 17th 1962,  they welcomed a son Todd Michael.  After living in Cosmos for a number of years, the family decided to move to Litchfield in 1967 to the yellow house on the corner that Shirley absolutely loved!

She always had a strong work ethic and is well known for having worked at Snyder Drug as a pharmacy technician and later years as a bank teller at multiple banks in Litchfield, most notably Mid Country Bank. Shirley loved all her customers that she waited on and always welcomed them with her cheerful demeanor. She retired in 1998.  She was a very kind and beautiful person both inside and out. She always had a smile on her face and never went anywhere without her lipstick and earrings on!

Shirley always made everyone feel welcomed at her home. She always had the coffee on and there was always a plate of cookies on the table! Visiting with friends and family was definitely made a priority which created many wonderful memories for years to come.  Shirley loved to dance and loved old time country music. Shirley's faith was important to her. She was an active member of St Philips Church in Litchfield.  Her family and friends meant the world to her and she absolutely doted over being a grandma and great grandma. She was a wonderful cook and always made the best oatmeal raisin cookies. Every hunting season she would prepare her cookies and make many of them for the boys to take hunting. She took great pride in that and they liked it too! Shirley also loved her birds and making sure that her bird feeders were always full. She loved to sit at her dining room table and watch them outside her window.

She always made everyone feel welcomed when people where in her presence. There was always laughter, followed up by an occasional snort sometimes! She will always be remembered for the genuine love and affection she displayed and we will miss her forever. We take comfort in knowing that she is reunited with Bernell and Todd and all of her siblings and their spouses and her mom and dad. They are all dancing, we are sure of that!

Shirley is survived by her granddaughter Nicole Leland and great grandchildren Hannah and Mason Leland of Duluth, MN;  grandson Michael Buck and his wife Samantha and great grandchildren Brynna, Adelynn & Callan Buck of Litchfield, MN; Beloved other mom to Debbie VanNurden Baima and Charles Baima; and beloved aunt to several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Alice Oestreich, Her husband Bernell in 2016, her son Todd in 2010, her brother Bill Oestreich and his wife Mary Louise, her brother Gayle Oestreich and his wife Arlene, her sister Pat Reins and her husband Ardell.

Shirley will remain in our hearts forever.