Shirley Vander Laan, 90, of Pollock, South Dakota passed away on Friday evening, February 1st at the Avera Eureka Health Care Center in Eureka.

Visitation will begin at 6:30 pm with a prayer service at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 8th, 2019 at Pollock Lutheran Church, Pollock, SD.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at the Pollock Lutheran Church, Pollock, SD with Pastor Dave Lund officiating.

Burial will be at the Spring Valley Cemetery, north of Pollock.

Shirley was born on August 29, 1928, in Pollock, SD to Kasper and Sofia (Weber) Schmidt. The third of five children, Shirley grew up and attended school in Pollock. She worked at various jobs until she married George H. "Polly" Douglas in Aberdeen, SD on September 18, 1946. Polly and Shirley moved to the Douglas ranch west of Pollock until the Oahe Dam flooded the farm and the town of Pollock was moved. They then moved to new town Pollock where they owned and operated Polly's Bar for several years while continuing their farming and ranching interests. Polly and Shirley had two children, Jerry on April 11, 1947, and Georgia Ann on August 16, 1948. Polly passed away on December 5, 1969.

On November 5, 1970, Shirley married Fred "Fritz" Vander Laan and they continued to live in Pollock. Fritz passed away on March 26, 1976.

Shirley often babysat for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them - always making sure they were well fed, even if they weren't hungry! She loved to follow their many school and sports activities, often sitting in the stands in 100-degree weather to watch her grandsons play softball. She also attended many of the home games for the Pollock Bulldogs, Campbell County Express, Herreid Yellowjackets, and Herreid/Selby Area Wolverines - cheering on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shirley was one of their biggest fans and often rewarded them for a good game, good performance, or good report card with a little "spending money" because she was so proud of them. She also enjoyed working in her garden, shopping at the Dollar Store, taking trips to Mobridge with her good friend, Mary Johnson, and evening lawn chair visits with her friends in Mary's driveway.

Shirley moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Herreid on August 24, 2015, and later moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Selby on August 16, 2017. On September 26, 2018, Shirley became a resident of the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center in Eureka, SD. Shirley was a longtime member of the Pollock Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Ladies Circle (WELCA).

Shirley is survived by one son, Jerry (Ruby) Douglas of Pierre, SD; one daughter, Georgia (Ken) Vander Vorst of Pollock, SD; five grandchildren: Sharlene (Brett) Lien of Sioux Falls, SD;  Wade (Sara) Douglas of Aberdeen, SD; Lance (Kaye) Vander Vorst of Herreid, SD;  Stephanie (Shane) Rustin of New Ulm, MN; and Trenton (Christie) Vander Vorst of Minot, ND; thirteen great-grandchildren: Bailey, Seth, and Kennedi Lien of Sioux Falls, SD; Grace, Zoe, and Livia Douglas of Aberdeen, SD; Brady (Faith) Vander Vorst and Karson and Ashlyn Vander Vorst all of Herreid, SD; Alexis and Addison Rustin of New Ulm, MN; Parker and Hayden Vander Vorst of Minot, ND; and one great-great granddaughter (due May 2019); one step-daughter, Karen Meier of Garrison, ND; two step-daughters-in-law, Bonnie Vander Laan of Pollock, SD;  Mary Kalvoda of Wilmar, MN; five step-grandchildren: Chad (Meg) Vander Laan of Pollock, SD; Deb (Ken) Moens of Evergreen, CO; Mike (Tara) Vander Laan and Jason Vander Laan all of Bismarck, ND; Willow (Dave) Sprenger of Garrison, ND; many step-great-grandchildren; one brother, Darold Schmidt of Rapid City, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; her husband George H. Douglas; her husband Fred Vander Laan; two sisters, Eva (George) Renner and Lucille (Eddie) Moser; two sisters in infancy, Irene and Martha Schmidt; one brother, Raymond (Genevieve) Schmidt; and two step-sons, Arlo Vander Laan and Terry Vander Laan; and her dear friend Maria "Mary" Johnson on December 30, 2018.

Shirley's family would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Good Samaritan Society in Herreid and Selby, and the Avera Eureka Healthcare Center in Eureka for their excellent compassion and care over the last several years.

Arrangements by Myers Funeral Home, Linton, ND