Shirley Malm Obituary

Shirley Ann Malm, 86, of Lindsborg, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on July 8, 2025. She was born Shirley Ann Harper on August 6, 1938, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Lloyd and Edna (Vermillion) Harper.

In 1956, Shirley received an art scholarship to Bethany College, where she met and fell in love with a local farm boy, Virgil Dean Malm. The two were married on August 18, 1957. They moved to Windom in 1963 and returned to Lindsborg in 1973, settling into a farmhouse and raising two sons, Kevin and Harper.

Shirley worked for many years in the Bethany College cafeteria, and her love of cooking extended well beyond the campus. Her family will especially remember her "lunch lady" classics - most notably her famous butterscotch haystacks (a favorite

among her grandchildren), cinnamon rolls, Swedish rosettes, and Swedish rye bread.

But Shirley's greatest passion was always art. It was rare to find her without a paintbrush in hand - or paint splatters on her arms and clothes. Lindsborg is quite literally more colorful because of her. She owned and operated The Station art studio and gallery from 1994 to 2003 and later served as the artist in residence at Hemslöjd in downtown Lindsborg. She loved having visitors watch her paint while she told them stories of Swedish folk-art and traditions. Her artwork lives on in homes throughout the region and across the country - and on many of Lindsborg's iconic Dala horses, both the oversized ones (Wild Dalas Herd) and the colorful porch pieces around town, each signed with her artistic mark, "Sam."

Her talents helped shape the very look and feel of Lindsborg. She designed Hyllningsfest program covers, painted the "Välkommen to Lindsborg" sign over Lincoln Street, created Christmas banners that once lined the downtown light poles, and brought color to the bandshell for countless Broadway RFD performances. Her work includes the mural on the south wall of the City Building and many storefront signs still visible today - a lasting legacy of her love for community and craft.

Shirley gave generously of her time and talents. She served on the Christmas Committee, the Lindsborg Signage Committee, and the Hyllningsfest Committee. She directed the Swedish Dancers and supported countless local fundraisers - often donating custom-painted Dala name tags and other handmade pieces. She sang for many years in the Messiah choir.

Her Swedish folk-art style of painting was beloved not just in Lindsborg, but throughout the country. Her work earned her invitations to numerous juried art shows, where she proudly represented Lindsborg. She often laughed about the time her dressing room at a North Dakota festival was just a few doors down from a famous performer (you might have heard of Merle Haggard?) - a memory she treasured and retold with her signature humor. Her artwork was featured in multiple publications ranging from magazines, newspapers and websites - but she remained most proud of the impact she made in the town she loved.

After retiring, she built a small art studio beside her home - a peaceful haven where creativity flowed freely. It became a cherished space where she spent countless hours painting and sharing her love of art, often inviting her great-grandchildren in for impromptu lessons and treasured moments together.

Shirley also loved games - cards, dice, and especially Boggle. She was unbeatable. In her later years, she even mastered games on her tablet, proving her love of fun and learning never faded.

Shirley was a longtime member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg. Her faith was a steady presence - quiet but unwavering - and it showed through her kindness, her creativity, and her service to others. We take peace in knowing that Shirley is now home with her Savior and is reunited with loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Jae Lea Malm; her son, Kevin Malm; her husband, Dean Malm; her parents; and five siblings.

She is survived by her sister, Carolyn Marsh of Arlington; son, Harper (Kathy) Malm; her grandchildren, Erica (Brian) Green of Salina, Heather Myers of Lindsborg, and Brent (Claire) Wiseman of Salina; Laynette (Stephen) Rowson of Florida, Carrie (Chip) Ellis of Lindsborg, Stephanie (Travis) Kaiser of Hoisington, and many beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Visitation will be held at Crick-Christians Funeral Home Monday, July 14th from 5-7pm.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 15, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg at 10:00am, immediately followed by a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to TACOL or Lindsborg American Legion Post 140 in Shirley's honor.

Shirley was a true Lindsborg treasure who lived a full and beautiful life devoted to her family, her art, and her community. Her hands created beauty, her table gathered family, and her heart made everyone feel at home. She leaves behind a legacy of creativity, kindness, and love that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.