Shirley Joyce Baynham Putz danced her way into Heaven on July 19, 2021 after a brief stay in Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital (FMDH) in Glasgow, Montana. She was the middle daughter born on November 18, 1926 to Myrtle Alice Nelson Baynham and Walter Alexander Baynham of Glasgow, Montana.
Shirley was proud of her Montana heritage having grown up on the south side of Glasgow and graduating from Glasgow High School in 1944. She went on to Montana State University with the Army Cadet Corps of Nurses earning her three-year Registered Nurses Degree (RN) in 1947.
Shirley married Wayne Joseph Putz Jr. on January 19, 1946 in Great Falls, Montana while Wayne was on leave from the US Navy. After completing their respective obligations of nursing school and Navy, the couple returned to Glasgow and then moved to Wheeler in 1953.
Shirley and Wayne shared 66+ years together and raised eight children. Those children were their pride and joy; their most important life’s work. Shirley and Wayne were also surrogate parents to numerous young men and women in need of a place to call home There was never a holiday meal or family gathering that did not include other community members – there was always room for one more.
Shirley began working at FMDH while she was in high school. She worked in the laundry, the kitchen, and as a Candy Striper. In 1947, she returned to FMDH as an RN and completed a 25-year career at FMDH. While living in Wheeler, Shirley’s nursing duties also included Pre-School Round-Up for the Fort Peck Schools, Emergency Aid Station Nurse in Fort Peck, Community Health Nurse, Air Ambulance Flight Nurse, and First Aid Instructor.
In 1974, the Putz Family moved to Boulder City, Nevada where Shirley continued her Nursing Career. She worked in several aspects of nursing before she found her passion in Hospice Care. Shirley worked for 20+ years in this area of Nursing. As always, Shirley saw a need and developed a program to meet the need. She was instrumental in founding Lend-A-Hand in Boulder City, a network of trained volunteers to assist home-bound individuals with various personal needs.
A Church Family was an important part of Shirley’s life. She attended The Christian Church and later joined St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Glasgow. She also participated with husband Wayne in activities at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. When the Family moved to Boulder City Shirley became a pillar at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. She was active in Prison Ministries, Feeding the Homeless with the Friends in the Desert Program, weekly Prayer Services at the Veteran’s Home in Boulder City, and Children’s Church sermons. In 1993, Shirley was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada. In that role, she became more active in taking communion to those who were homebound and doing funeral services for a local mortuary for individuals who did not have a church home.
Music brought joy to Shirley’s life. She loved to dance. Shirley and Wayne never missed a dance in the Fort Peck area. Shirley was well known on the dance floor for her high-kicks and the flash of her red petty-pants. When the family moved to Boulder City, the entire family took square dance lessons. Shirley expanded her repertoire to include: banjo, belly dance, tap dance, and burlesque. Shirley also loved the bright lights of Vegas and enjoyed taking visitors to Vegas entertainment events. For her 90th Birthday, she went to see Charlie Pride and then to see Willie Nelson
In the summer of 2012, Wayne and Shirley made a two-month-long trip back to Montana to visit all their old friends and family and to see all their old stomping grounds. They had a wonderful time visiting and reminiscing. In September, Shirley lost her loving husband. After mourning the loss of her “Honey-Pot” for a couple of years she began planning her return home to Montana. She was very detailed and intentional in her planning.
In July 2018, Shirley returned to Glasgow to live. She became active in the community, always on the go visiting friends, going to lunch with her gal-pals, looking for bargains at garage sales, going to community events, and just having fun.
In 2019, after some major health issues, Shirley moved to Prairie Ridge Village in Glasgow a community she loved. It was on the same block as her childhood home, was located on the same lot as her elementary school and playground, many of her childhood friends lived there, and the Staff treated her like royalty. Shirley enjoyed the activities at Prairie Ridge, frequent letters from friends and family, visits from her grandsons, and daily contact with her daughter. Shirley lived life!
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Myrtle Baynham, her husband Wayne Joseph Putz, Jr.; her older sister Dorothy Jane Baynham Stensland; brothers-in-law, Harold Warren Stensland and Louie Strader; and nephew Kenneth Stensland.
Shirley is survived by her younger sister Myrtle Strader (Bellevue, WA); her children – Thomas Putz (Billings, MT), Joyce and Jim Ragland (Pearland, TX), Jane Putz, (Missoula, MT), Nancy Putz-Lamport (Missoula, MT), Dan and Michelle Putz (Effingham, IL), Carrye Putz (Las Vegas, NV), Mary and Tom Wehrman (Pittsburg, KS), Kathryn and Kevin Troy Darling (Phoenix, AZ); Grandchildren – Josephine, Charley, Cloudia, Grace, Clara, Sophie, Wayne Fab Putz (US Marine), JohnDaniel and Lauren Putz (US Army SGT, Airborne Combat Medic); several nieces, nephews and great-grands.
The Community is invited to the visitation on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Bell Mortuary. And a gravesite service at the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow on Wednesday, May 15 at 1:00 PM.
As Shirley would say, “Thanks for stopping by”.
In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Charity or Church of your choice.