Shirley Gifford

Shirley P. Gifford, 87, of Waterloo, Iowa and formerly of Arlington, Iowa, died Thursday morning, March 28, 2024, at the Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo.

Funeral Service: 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington with Rev. Margaret Yackel-Juleen officiating.
Visitation: 11:30 A.M. to 1:15 P.M. Wednesday at the church.
Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington, Iowa is assisting the family.
Interment: Taylorsville Cemetery, Arlington.
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Shirley Pearl Belden was born March 26, 1937, in Volga, Iowa, the daughter of Linn Carmi and Elsie Pearl (Hansel) Belden. In 1956, she graduated from Volga High School in Volga. On April 23, 1960, she was united in marriage to Delbert Donald Gifford at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington. Shirley was a devoted homemaker and farm wife. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington. Shirley was a member of the Garden Club and Card Club in Arlington and Strawberry Point. She enjoyed watching birds and knew each kind. Shirley was an exceptional artist, especially painting and drawing. She enjoyed all time spent with her family, especially her grandkids and great grandkids.

Shirley is survived by her son: Duane (Judi) Gifford of New Hartford; daughter: Cindy Bentley of Waterloo;
4 grandchildren: Chris (Melissa) Gifford of Solon, Danielle (Mat) Prather of Forest City, Bethany Bentley of Des Moines and Callie Gifford of Pullman, Washington; 6 great grandchildren: Skylar and Andrew Hall, Joshua, Walter and Violet Prather and Silas Gifford; sister: Maxine McAllen of Arlington; sisters-in-law: Pat Belden of Clayton Center and Sheila Belden of Marengo; and many nieces and nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband on November 3, 2016; 4 brothers: Robert Hansel, Wayne Belden, Glenn Belden and Russell Belden; sister: Jean Morarie; sisters-in-law: Mary Kay Hansel and Mary Belden; and brothers-in-law: Dick McAllen and Glenn Morarie.