Shirley Eleanor (Haarstad) Christiansen

Shirley Christiansen passed away at the Lacombe Hospital on Feb 20, 2026 at the age of 95.

Shirley was born on August 30, 1930 in Bentley to Anna and Edward Haarstad. She was the 12th of 13 children. She was raised on a farm west of Bentley with a view of the Sunset Hills. Her father passed away when she was seven and the Haarstad family became a tight knit group helping their mother. This family bond continued all through her life. She and her sister Evie worked for their Uncle Alfred Haarstad in the hay fields as well as doing chores at their home. She attended Stephenson School.

On May 22, 1948 she married a handsome WW II veteran, Lawrence Christiansen. They lived on the original Christiansen farm west and south of Bentley until they moved to a mixed farm west and north of Lacombe in 1960. She worked alongside Lawrence on the farm while raising her four kids. In the late 1960’s she went to work at the Lacombe Seniors Lodge.

Sixty years later she became a resident of the lodge. She regularly commented on how good the staff was to her and her family will be forever grateful to them.

After Lawrence passed away on October 13, 1998, Shirley stayed on the farm north of Bentley and worked at various jobs in town. She really enjoyed the kids and the parents she met at the Bentley arena. She was a longtime member of the Sunset Hills Riding Club. Trail riding and camping were her hobbies. She loved sitting and visiting around a campfire and was often the last one to leave but would be the first one up making coffee and cooking breakfast.

She moved to Lacombe in 2017 and was blessed to have great neighbours. In 2022 she moved to the Senior Lodge.

Left to mourn her passing are her kids:

Leanne (Rick) Garries—-Bentley

Les Christiansen—-Valleyview

Ann (John) Plunkett—-Lacombe

Brenda (Dean) Stewart—-Lacombe County

9 grandchildren and many great grandchildren

She was Auntie Shirley to many nieces and nephews. She was the last of the “Aunt Pile”. She was held in high regards by many of her kids’ friends and they will miss her spunk and sense of humour.

She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence, daughter-in-law Janice Christiansen, granddaughters Debbie Lynn Garries and Randee Lynn Stewart, granddaughter’s husband, Darin MacDonald.  In January 2026 she lost her little sister and best friend, Evie Andrew. They two had a very special bond and were so dear to each other.

A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held at the Bentley Blindman Valley Ag Center on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

If desired, donations to the Lacombe Palliative Care Society at lacombepalliativecare.ca  or PO Box 5576, Lacombe, AB T4L 1X2

Our mother loved her flowers, so maybe in the spring plant one for her and remember her as it blooms.

Shirley and Lawrence’s epitaph: Happy trails to you till we meet again!

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shirley Eleanor (Haarstad) Christiansen, please visit our floral store.