Shirley Lybeck, 89

On April 19, 2026, we lifted Shirley to heaven. Shirley Ann Heggen Lybeck passed away peacefully in Great Falls. Her loved ones were given the opportunity to say goodbye. 

Born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, to Fred Warren Heggen and Lena Viola Heggen, Shirley was the third of five children — Joyce Eastlund (Holly), Beryl Garvin (Russ), Wayne Heggen (Arlene) and Jerry Heggen (Kathy).

Shirley married Willard Lybeck in 1954. They met in May on a blind date and married four months later. Over 57 years, they found themselves living 12 miles north of Zurich, Montana. They lived in Zurich, Kalispell and Thousand Palms, California.

Shirley had five children, Cynthia, Christina, Brenda, Warren and Shari. Sadly, Cindy’s life ended too soon, and Chris died in 1976.

She loved to garden. She had a big garden and a little garden. Her family ate seasonal vegetables, grass-fed beef, took vitamins and wore sunscreen before it was popular.

Her house was always full of love. Anyone who stopped by was welcome and fed. She played a lot of games, but Pinochle and Yahtzee made the top two.

Shirley Lybeck is survived by her children, Brenda Flynn, Warren (Nancy) Lybeck and Shari (Edward) Ruff; grandchildren, Whitney (Patrick) Wicks, Jordan (Sage) Lybeck, Madison (Mike) Ruff, Rydell (Monica) Ruff, Fallon Flynn and Jack Flynn; and great-grandchildren, Lane, Hadley, Hoyt, Shay and Emmett.

Services will be held at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell on May 1 at 1 p.m. with a gathering afterwards at the Elks Lodge in Kalispell.

Memorials include donations to your local food bank. Condolences for the family may be shared online at oconnorfuneralhome.com.