Shirley Hildebrandt

Shirley Eileen Hildebrandt was born April 3, 1930 in Saskatoon, SK. to Jacob & Josephine Harder. She passed away Aug. 3,2025 in Saskatoon, SK.

Shirley was the third born of 11 siblings. The family lived in a tiny 2 bedroom house at 1535 Ave. D North. The girls all shared a bed & the boys shared a bed. Eventually, her dad built another bedroom onto the house for the 2 oldest girls.

Shirley attended Mayfair School, graduating from grade 8 there. When she was 10 years old, she walked from their home on Ave. D North to the Nutana area, taking 10 piano lessons. She didn’t really need these lessons as she already had a natural gift of playing by ear.

Shirley had fond memories of helping care for her younger siblings as well as playing baseball & other games with them.

The family attended Elim Tabernacle. In the early 1940s, Shirley won certificates & prizes for memorizing scripture & having perfect attendance in Sunday School.

In 1944, the Harder family moved to Vancouver, B.C. by train, when Shirley was 14 years old. They lived with her Uncle Herman & Aunt Norma Harder until they could get a house of their own. Shirley began working in a commercial laundry as well as doing housekeeping at this time.

On May 24,1948, Shirley was snowshoeing on top of Mount Baker at a young people’s function when she met a young man named Sieghard Hildebrandt. They immediately had eyes for each other! She got a terrible sunburn that day & Sieghard used that excuse to phone her faithfully for days thereafter to check on her! He won her affections & the courtship was on! They were engaged on Sieghard’s birthday, Sept.13, 1948 & were married on July 2,1949 at Emmanuel Pentecostal Assembly. They honeymooned in a 1937 Chev car (that costs $900.00) to Abbotsford, Ashcroft, Salmon Arm & Trail B.C. as well as to Omak & Coalville, Washington.

Their first home was an apartment on 10th St. in New West Minister. A year later they bought a house on Nickel Rd in Whalley, B.C. They put $500.00 down & made monthly payments of $35.00.

In 1950, Sieghard & Shirley began pastoring at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Port Coquitlam where they ministered for 9 years. Shirley always played the piano, organ or accordian for all the services as well as singing duets with her husband. While living at the coast, 2 sons, Leonard & Neil were born to them.

In 1959, the family moved to Brooks, AB where they pastored at Emmanuel Assembly for 8 years. While living in Brooks, they built 3 houses, living in each one. Everywhere they lived, Sieghard always did carpentry, painting & odd jobs to supplement their pastor’s salary. Shirley assisted him with these projects. Together they painted many houses.

In 1967, they moved to Davidson, SK where they pastored at the Apostolic church for 3 years. Being in the ministry meant moving wherever & whenever God called, so in 1970, they found themselves moving northeast to Nipawin, SK where they pastored at The Apostolic church for 7 years. It was in Nipawin that both their sons were married.

In 1977, Shirley & Sieghard went to Upper Volta, West Africa for 4 months, joining Sieghard’s brother Armien & his wife Helen on the mission field. They assisted with many renovation, repair & upholstery projects as well as speaking & ministering in song. This was an unforgettable experience for Shirley & Sieghard. They enjoyed hosting many friends, sharing their African picture slides & other ministry trips they had taken.

In 1978, they moved to Ganges, Salt Spring Island, BC & pastored at The Community Gospel Chapel for 10 years. They easily adapted & settled into the relaxed way of island life that revolved around taking a ferry to go everywhere.

All throughout their years of ministry, Shirley hosted visiting speakers & missionaries, cooking all the meals & putting them up in her guest room. She also catered banquets for countless church functions, all while faithfully playing piano or organ for every service. In those days, as well as Sunday School, Sunday morning service, & Sunday evening service, there was a mid-week Bible study & prayer meeting that she also played piano for.

Shirley never sat idle but always sewed her own clothes, made many quilts, as well as knitted & crocheted countless tablecloths, doilies, sweaters, etc. We are privileged as a family to cherish these treasures.

Shirley & Sieghard went to the United Kingdom in Oct.1981 where they spent 3 weeks ministering under Dr. Tony Stone Ministries. Their itinerary was full as they spoke & sang 31 times at events such as rallies, church services, a Tony Stone Crusade & to over 2000 students in public high school assemblies. While there, they traveled by train & bus to their various engagements in Stourbridge, Birmingham, Oswestry, St. Martin’s & Preston in England as well as, Swansea, Carmarthen & Welshpool in Wales & Glasgow, Scotland. Only eternity will reveal the fruits of their labors.

In the winter of 1989, Shirley & Sieghard sprouted snow-bird wings & enjoyed the sunny skies of Arizona & California. When they returned to Canada, they moved back to Nipawin, SK with the intention of retiring but “The Calling” on their lives continued. They spent many years travelling to The Pas, Manitoba & Porcupine Plain, SK to minister to the congregations that were without a pastor. During these years they also ministered at Hudson Bay, SK for life-long friends, Ed & Betty Armbruster. One Sunday, in 1995, after speaking in Hudson Bay, they were headed back home to Nipawin when they got caught in a blizzard & had to take refuge in the Mistatim hotel along the highway to wait out the storm. It was just a little one-horse town in the middle of nowhere & long before cell phones, so their family had the RCMP out searching for them! That hotel room only cost $14.00!!!

Shirley & Sieghard always made a point of going back to BC each year to keep in touch & visit their families on both sides. They enjoyed many trips together over the years, especially to Hawaii.

When their retirement home & yard became an unmanageable task, Shirley & Sieghard downsized & moved into Pioneer House. Shirley tirelessly cared for her husband in his declining years & when he moved to Pineview Nursing Home, she faithfully visited him at least twice a day. He passed away in 2010, 14 months later, Shirley downsized again & moved to Saskatoon. She continued to serve the Lord by playing piano & organ at The Bentley church services.

As well as tinkling the ivories, Shirley’s hobbies included jig-saw puzzles, crossword puzzles, word searches & watching Christian television. Over the years, she made hundreds of jig-saw puzzles! She also kept up with current world affairs & enjoyed watching sports on TV.

Shirley was so thankful for the 14 months she resided in assisted living at Elim Lodge. She thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship with her dining room friends & staff who loved her so well. She also appreciated the care she received for the 2 months that she was at the Baraka care Home. She truly lived with a grateful heart & attitude!

Shirley didn’t put any importance on material possessions. Having frequently moved throughout her life, & downsizing a few times, she parted with many things along the way, each time, saying: it’s just stuff. I can’t take it with me when I go. Then, she’d break into her favorite song: There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep, there’s food on my table, & shoes on my feet, You gave me your love Lord, & a fine family, Thank You Lord, for Your blessings on me.

Shirley passed into the presence of her Lord & Savior on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

She is predeceased by: Parents: Rev. Jacob W. (1991) & Josephine (nee Kirby) (1980). Siblings: Harold (1969), Pearl (1973), Ethel (2012), Dorothy (2017), Hazel (2018), Ronald (2021), George (2025), Emelie (2025). Husband: Sieghard (2010) Son: W. Neil (2022)

Loved ones surviving her are: Son Leonard (Gladys), Daughter-in-law Barbara. Grandchildren: Carmen(Nathan)Timblin, Bryan (Jamie) Hildebrandt,  Mitchell (Genevieve)Hildebrandt,  Andrew(Shancelle)Hildebrandt, Melinda(Cory)Confrey, Mandy(Daniel)Thiessen. Great-grandchildren: Liam & Merrick Timblin. Micah (Shaylynn), Simon (Kaylee), Calleigh, Lauryn & Leah Hildebrandt. Jairus, Zariah, Mabon, Damari & Theo Hildebrandt. Marshall, Emerich, Élisse, Camden & Amélie Hildebrandt. Conan, Brynlee & Taryn Confrey. Great-great grandchildren: Stetson & Josiah Hildebrandt. Sisters: Velma McGillvray & Joy (Bob) Anderson, as well as a host of nieces, nephews & friends. In-laws: Isbrandt Friesen, Everett Friesen, Donna Jones, Donatella Harder, Jim Sowles, Cornelia Doell & Linda Smith.

Martens Warman Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with Shirley Hildebrandt's care and arrangements.