Shirley Jean Bartlett, 75, of Redfield, SD, passed away Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Redfield Care and Rehabilitation Center.  Her memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 12, 2017 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Redfield.  Reverend Tammy Toepke-Floyd will officiate.  Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at Riverside Memorial Cemetery in Aberdeen, SD. Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield has been entrusted with arrangements. (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Shirley Jean Bartlett was born January 23, 1942 to Edwin and Barbara (Cooper) Gates in Aberdeen. She said that she and Tom Daschel shared the same alley. During the summer months, several kids would get together to play marbles in the dirt alley. With limited eyesight, she was a sharp shooter with her cat eyed and steelies; and she whipped Tom most every time.

She graduated from Central High School in 1960. She moved to Minneapolis for employment following high school. Shirley was trained to use the Dictaphone and from 1962 – 1969, she assembled and packaged at the Minnesota Society of the Blind. She was born with Glaucoma Retinitis Pigmentosis which resulted in very poor eyesight and she eventually went blind at the age of 20. She accepted her blindness as a new way of life; she never wanted pity. Shirley was adamant about being independent. Following her marriage to Glenn Chamberlin in 1968, they became parents of two sighted children. It was a completely new lifestyle for two blind people in an apartment with a newborn. They were involved in many organizations for blind people and were successful in most every activity. Winning the state bowling for the blind took them to NY. Winning the state dart contest awarded them a trip to nationals in Las Vegas. They were also involved with church events. Glenn and Shirley were divorced in 1990.

In 1993, she married Dennis Bartlett who played organ, piano and keyboard. They met at guide dog school while each was training. They each eventually had 2 guide dogs who served as their eyes.

Shirley and Dennis went shopping for a van in Minneapolis; it was the prettiest light sky blue. They had the cash to pay for it, but were denied the purchase as the insurance considered them a high risk. A friend co-signed the title and all was fine.

They belonged to a group of six couples who were all blind with the exception of 1 gentleman. They quite often had activities planned for Sunday afternoon. One fall day, they decided to pick Granny Smith apples off the tree in the back yard. Shirley often commented, "I bet the neighbors are getting a real hoot out of 11 blind people picking apples!" Then they purchased a gas grill that really made the neighbors nervous. They were also involved with a Beep Ball team which is baseball for the blind. They were exciting to watch. She was a faithful fan of the Minnesota Twins; even the years they were terrible. She knew each past and present player by name and the position they played.

Shirley could cook, bake, clean, do laundry and loved to go shopping. Her disability stopped her from nothing she set her mind to do. When visiting family she would always declare, "If I need to get up to the bathroom, I'll be fine. I brought my brail flashlight!"  When she visited the Black Hills for a family member's ordination, she stood outside the cabin in the evening. She explained that she hadn't smelled anything like this since Placerville 60 years ago. Taking her to see Bill Gaither and the Oak Ridge Boys, she sang each and every song with the band. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed Dolly Parton. Most of the trip home she recited a complete biography of Dolly. She was like a walking encyclopedia.

When you think about Shirley's life, you really need to pause and wonder how she did it. When she was two, her dad was killed in the war in France. When she was four, her five year old brother was Aberdeen's first infantile polio victim and died within four days. She was constantly bullied, not included in social groups throughout school and then, she lost her eyesight at such an early age.

The move to South Dakota two and a half years ago proved to be a great move as her children from Minneapolis were now able to come for a visit.

Shirley was not afraid to die and seemed to look forward to it as her health declined in the past few months. She had great faith and knew many bible verses and most songs in the hymnal. She even helped write this tribute to her life.

Shirley will be laid to rest beside her mother and brother, along with her faithful guide dog, Nebraska in Aberdeen.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Kelly (Brent) of Cambridge, MN; and her son, Steven (Tracy) of Minneapolis, MN.  She is also survived by her brother, Bob (Ann) Gates of Cinebar, WA; her cousin and caretaker, Mickey (Doyle) Harms and their children: Stacey (Jason) Banister and Jenna (Jessi) Lewis and their children, all of Redfield. She had eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Dwight and Helene Gates, former members of the UCC congregation; her father in 1944; her brother in 1946 and her mother in 1986.