Shirley Briss

Shirley Briss, age 84, of Payson, AZ, formerly of Kensal, ND, passed away Wednesday, March 9th, 2022, surrounded by family in Fargo, ND. Shirley Ann Fredrickson was born June 25th, 1937, in Kensal. In 1955, she graduated from Kensal High School and went on to study Teaching at Jamestown College. She taught elementary school in rural North Dakota until marrying her high school sweetheart Eugene Briss on June 18th, 1960. She worked in Fargo at Cass Clay Creamery until Eugene graduated from NDSU (Go Bison), when they packed up the little red Volkswagen Beetle and moved to Alhambra, CA in 1961. Shirley raised her family in Walnut, CA where she was a member of the Walnut Valley and later the Valley Center Churches of the Nazarene. In 1995, after Eugene retired from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, they moved to Payson, AZ and built their dream home. There she was a member of, and the organist for, the Payson First Church of the Nazarene and served as an auxiliary member of Gideons International. Shirley is survived by daughter, Stephanie Fugate (Mark) of Nipomo, CA; son, Kerry Briss (Julie) of Glyndon, MN; two sisters, Joyce DeVillers of Wahpeton, ND and Karen Witt of Watertown, SD; five grandchildren, Katie Gates, Bethany Piesco, Tim Fugate, Emilee Briss, and Howie Briss; and a great grandchild, Baby Gates, due in August. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted & Erma Fredrickson; her husband, Eugene Briss; and two grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Boulger Funeral Home in Fargo on Tuesday, March 15th, 2022, from 3:33PM-5:55PM. Burial will be in the Spring at the Kensal Cemetery, Kensal, ND, and a memorial service will be held at a future date at the Payson First Church of the Nazarene, Payson, AZ. The family requests that any donations be made to Gideons International.