1937 - 2025
Shirley Ritcher (Retzer, Pollock) life began with a surprise—she was one of the first twins ever born at Kelowna General Hospital on March 1st, 1937. Her parents Liliane and Peter Giesbrecht, didn’t even know they were expecting twins, so they only had 12 diapers to start!
She moved around a lot as a child, adapting to new places and new challenges. Her strong work ethic showed early—her first job was as a live-in babysitter at just 15 years old. Later, she worked as a secretary at a Underwood Typewriters in Regina before marrying Clarence Retzer in 1957. Together, they had two children, Lynn and Lloyd.
Hard work defined her. She learned how to weld while working at Bredins in Sundre, where she met Frank Pollock. They married in 1974 and built a life together, moving to Thorsby, where they ran a farm with Limousin cattle and chickens. After Frank’s passing, she married Art Richter in 2007 and they moved to Seba Beach. After Art’s passing, she moved to Olds in 2017.
She loved knitting, sewing, scrapbooking, music, but above all, she loved her family. She is survived by her daughter Lynn Retzer as well as her son Lloyd and his wife LJ Retzer. She is also survived by her step daughters Linda Johnson and Marilyn Strand and her husband Darren. Altogether she had 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her brother, Victor Giesbrecht, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husbands, Frank Pollock and Art Richter, her son-in-law Walter Graham, and her beloved twin sister, Beverly Brandsgard.
Shirley passed away March 5th, 2025 at the age of 88.
