Shirley Belle (Archer) Golden was born August 13, 1931 on her Grandpa Matthew Archer’s farm in the Ryno District, Southwest of Broken Bow to Jay and Pearl (Bush) Archer and died at the age of 88 at the Brookestone View Care Home in Broken Bow. She attended schools at Ryno, Cottage, and Janesville, graduating from Berwyn High School in 1949. Shirley was baptized and joined the United Methodist in 1948 and was a faithful member for 72 years.
Shirley worked as a Nurses’ Aid in the Carothers’ Hospital (Bow Hospital) until she married Robert (Bob) Golden on November 29, 1951. Later, she worked at the Broken Bow High School Cafeteria and as a secretary for Custer United Methodist Parish, most of the time she spent at home raising five kids. She and Bob lived in Berwyn, Waynesville, Missouri, Cozad, Ogallala, before returning to Broken Bow, Nebraska where she lived for the remaining 52 years.
Shirley was a member of the Broken Bow United Methodist Church. She served as President of the United Methodist Women Unit, Circle Chairman of Young Mothers, Chairman of Outreachers Group, and held other offices in the United Methodist Church. She also helped with Girl Scouts.
She enjoyed collecting buttons, dog figurines, and Fenton White Hobnail Collection. She loved to embroidery and spent many years making tea towels for her kids, grandkids, and the UMW Bazaar. She mentioned that the church was her second home, telling her kids “If I’m not home when you come from school I am probably at the church.”
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Bob of nearly 46 years, daughter Janine Golden, brothers Kenneth, Gerald, and Dean Archer, and sisters DeEtta Kintzler, and Dorothy Drake.
Survivors include her children Mike (Terri) Golden of Burlington, Colorado, Lora (Cliff) Ruzicka of Grand Island, Nebraska, Kara (Gale) Hoover of Wray, Colorado, and Neal Golden (Donna Ecklund) of Overton, Nebraska; 22 Grandchildren, Michele (Dan) Myers, Cameron (Courtney) Echeverria, Travis (Kristina) Golden, McKenzie (Adam) Flanagan, Kristen Ruzicka (Joe Gourneau), Austin (Robin) Talbert, Denton (Brittni) Talbert, Preston (Kinsey) Talbert, Marcus Golden, Ahria (Ben) Dominguez, Brynn Golden, Johnna Long (Michael Miller), Dustin (Lindsey) Long, Cody (Kasie) Hoover, Nic (Barb) Hoover, Amy Cruce, Todd (Nikl) Jacobs, Lori (Clay) McKinley; Grace Ecklund, Caleb Ecklund, Rachel Ecklund, and Blake Ecklund. 42 Great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral Services for Shirley B Golden age 88 of Broken Bow, will be held on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Pastor Matt Fowler officiating for family and close friends. Burial will be the Broken Bow Township Cemetery with Govier Brothers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the United Methodist Church or the Broken Bow Food Pantry. A visitation will be held on Sunday June 28, 2020, 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with the family greeting friends 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary will follow all CDC guidelines and the State of Nebraska.
