January 16, 1935 - February 20, 2026
A funeral service for Shirley J. Ford will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Neb., with Pastor Jack Taylor and Mr. Bill Ford, officiating. Interment will follow at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery.
Shirley June (Rohnert) Ford was 91 years, 1 month and 4 days of age, when she left us to walk with Jesus. On Friday, February 20, 2026, after a short illness, she changed her address to Heaven.
Shirley was born on January 16, 1935, in Lexington, Neb., to John and Mary (Schmidt) Rohnert. She was the youngest of six children. She was baptized on March 3, 1935, and confirmed on June 1, 1952. She grew up in Lexington and attended and graduated with the Lexington High School class of 1953, with six other girls named "Shirley". A dear friend, also Shirley, shared that "it was the time of Shirley Temple" so a lot of girls shared the name.
Shirley and Dick Ford were united in marriage on September 11, 1954. The couple met on a blind date and only dated for a short time before deciding to marry. Dick's mother said she would sure like to meet Shirley before they got married. It was a fun memory and a successful 49 years of marriage proved it was a great union.
Shirley and Dick raised four wonderful sons, whom she taught to love the Lord and walk with eternal life as the final reward. As a family friend shared, "She handled those boys like a boss! She was born to be a boy mom"! She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now great-great-grandchildren. Every month, she looked through her date book to prepare cards to send to the great-grandchildren for their birthdays.
Some of Shirley's favorite hobbies included sewing many personalized items for her Bertrand Nursing Home friends, along with a multitude of tailored clothing pieces, ring bearer pillows and bibs for her great grandchildren. She led Bible studies up until the time of her death and enjoyed daily devotions and Bible reading. She liked to do crossword puzzles, sudoku and Jumble puzzles. She kept an assortment of toys and candy for any visitor who came to see her.
Through the years, Shirley enjoyed many different jobs. She started working as a waitress and cook in her family's café in Lexington at a young age. Shirley worked in a watch factory in Lincoln for a short time until she returned to care for her father in his last days of life, she also was a telephone operator in Lexington. The role she enjoyed the most was as a homemaker and working beside her husband on the farm and raising their four sons. After their sons were grown, Shirley enjoyed cooking in the Bertrand café and at the Bertrand Nursing Home, sewing at Betsy's Bobbins, working at B & D in Holdrege and Shirley and Dick were over the road truck drivers to finish their working careers.
Shirley was an active leader and volunteer at Hope Lutheran Church. She served as Sunday School secretary for many years and helped the Women's Group serve many meals.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick), of 49 years; her parents, John and Mary (Schmidt) Rohnert; her father and mother-in-law, Ralph and Oakle Ford; three granddaughters in infancy, Jennifer, Jessica and Sarai Ford; and a grandson, Jeremiah Ford. Four brothers and their wives, Benjamin and Marguerite Rohnert of Nampa, Idaho; John and Doris Rohnert of Lexington; Harry and Lucille Rohnert of Whittier, Calif.; Roy and Phyllis Rohnert of Lincoln; a sister, Lillie and her husband, August Kolb, of Johnson Lake; one brother-in-law, Jack Ford and his wife, Barb, of Holdrege. Several nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and nephews.
Shirley is survived by her sons and their wives: Bill (Martha) Ford, David (Leigh) Ford, John (Liz) Ford, and Rod (Robin) Ford. Shirley's 12 grandchildren and spouses: Scott (Kim), Christopher (Christan), Mike (Brooke), Laura (Matt) Hernandez, Luke (Cynthe), Seth (Keshia), James (Ashley), Rachel (Dalton) Peterson, Andrew (Megan), Danielle (Adam) Pritts, Jeff (Tirsten) and Philip (AnnaLeigh) Ford. Shirley's 37 Great-Grandchildren and spouses: Johanna (Drew) Knoerzer, Marie Ford; Carter, Camden, Cale, Caden, and Cason Ford; Jaydn (Nicole), Miles, Kinley, Cameron, and Holden Ford; Marcus, Isaac, and Jocelyn Hernandez; Ella, Noah, Ava Ford; Owen, Grant, Leah Ford; Joseph, Lydia, and Emily Ford; Clay, Macy, Ally, and Trey Peterson; Elliott, and Eliza Ford; Reagyn Ford-Pritts, Kameron Ford; Wylie, and Brynnleigh Ford; Samantha, Oliver and Theodore Ford.
She was so proud to welcome her Great-Great-Grandchildren: Rayelle Knoerzer; and Foster Ford.
A visitation will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with family greeting friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established in Shirley's honor and kindly suggested to Hope Lutheran Church of rural Smithfield, and the Bertrand Nursing Home.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
