Shirley Holland Kibler, 84, who ranched and sold insurance with her husband, died Sept. 9, 2009, of cancer.

She was born June 30, 1925, to Hubert Holland and Lucille Mellott Holland in Jordan. She grew up on a ranch north of Jordan and attended a one-room country school. She rode to elementary school on horseback and sometimes drove her sister and herself to school in a one-horse buggy.

She graduated from Garfield County High School in Jordan and worked as a clerk at a county office until her marriage to Keith Kibler on May 28, 1943. He was serving in the Army during World War II, and their first daughter was born just prior to his departure to Italy to take part in the offensive there. They weren’t reunited until his daughter, Kathy, was 18 months old.

After Mr. Kibler’s discharge, they lived on his ranch 40 miles north of Jordan where their first home was a three-room log cabin. Their next 19 years were spent in cattle and sheep ranching. They retired from ranching in 1964 and moved to Billings.

In Billings, Mrs. Kibler was involved in Mayflower Congregational Church and volunteer activities. After their children were grown, Mr. and Mrs. Kibler traveled Eastern Montana as life insurance agents until retiring in 1994. In 2007 they moved to Sweetwater Retirement Center and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary there in May 2008.

Survivors include daughters, Kathy Oden of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Janie Owens of Ankeny, Iowa, Lenore Swenson of Billings and Julie Kibler of Billings; six grandchildren; and three great-grandsons.

Services were held Sept. 14 at Mayflower Congregational Church of Christ.  A luncheon reception followed at the church. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Donations may be made to Rocky Mountain Hospice.