Shirley Tregoning

Shirley Elizabeth Tregoning passed away at Life Care Center of Greeley on March 1, 2026. Shirley was born at home in Windsor, Colorado on December 8th, 1937. She graduated from Windsor High School in 1955. Shirley then attended Central Business College in Denver, Colorado and received an Associate’s Degree in Business. After college, Shirley was employed as a stenographer at the Great Western Sugar Company in Windsor, Colorado and as a bookkeeper for the Great Western Credit Union for 8 years. While working for the Great Western Sugar Company, Shirley came up with the idea of putting a star made of lights on top of the sugar bins during the sugar beet campaign. The star was visible for miles. She was involved in organizing GWESCO, which was an organization for the spouses of full-time Great Western employees. Shirley married her soul mate, Merrill Tregoning on June 2, 1963, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Windsor, Colorado. They would be together for 58 years. Shirley would serve as a substitute secretary or cook in the various school districts where her husband was superintendent. If she was not working at school, she was carrying out the duties of being a mom. Shirley moved back to Windsor with her family in 1983. She was employed by the Bank of Windsor and then joined Merrill at HSI Health Plans in Fort Collins, CO until she retired along with her husband in 1998. She enjoyed attending her son Kyle’s sporting events over the years, whether her son was playing or coaching. Shirley also enjoyed the occasional trips to Blackhawk with her husband Merrill, son Kyle, friends, and family. She enjoyed embroidery, reading newspapers, and visiting with friends. Shirley is survived by her son Kyle (Shelley), grandson Connor (wife Sarah, daughter Bailey), granddaughter Anna, sister Margaret Matthews, nephew Donald Canfield (wife Kate, daughter Tori), numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Merrill, parents Henry and Elizabeth (Stromberger) Schmidt, sister Carol and husband Don Canfield, and brother-in-law Jim Matthews.

Celebration of Life will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church on Wednesday, March 11th beginning at 10:30am. A lunch reception will follow the service. Graveside services will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Bethel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.