Shelley Elaine (Herbel) Bullinger passed away on July 9, 2025 after a courageous 4 year battle with cancer.

She was born January 19, 1953 in Elgin, ND, to Marvin Herbel and L. Corrine (O'Shaunessy) Herbel.  She was the oldest of 5 children.

Shelley was raised in Bottineau and was a 1971 BHS graduate.  She worked at the Dairy Queen her parents owned where she waited on a young man, named Bruce, who caught her eye.  Shelley married Bruce Bullinger on March 4th, 1971 and went on to have 3 children in the 70's, Brook, Codi and Stuart.

The Bullingers made their home primarily in Valley City, Devils Lake and Bottineau. In Devils Lake, Shelley worked for the clinic as a receptionist for several years.  In Bottineau, Shelley was an administrator for Sodexo at Dakota College for 27 years, retiring in 2018.

Shelley was a loving and devoted mother to Brook, Codi and Stuart.  Her most cherished role was that of "Gramma Shelley" to her 9 grandchildren. She absolutely loved going to their sports games and watching them perform on stage.  She also enjoyed cooking and baking their favorite treats at the holidays or just because.  Everyone loved Gramma's Christmas sugar cookies.  Gramma always made holidays special, even as the grandkids got older, with her Easter egg hunts for the 'Golden Egg' or the crazy Christmas games.

Shelley was an avid reader and enjoyed her book club, as well as singing in the church choir.  Many weekends were spent camping at the State Park and Long Lake. She also loved gardening alongside Bruce, giving away their produce to friends and family.   She made the BEST pickles.

Shelley is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Bruce, daughter Brook and son in law Shane Soderstrom, daughter Codi and son in law Travis Rybchinski, and son Stuart Bullinger, 9 grandchildren; Carsyn, Joshua and  Ian Soderstrom, Riley, Emma and Ellee Rybchinski, Emily, Janie and Macklin Bullinger.  She is also survived by her sisters, Barbara Herbel Ramsey, Shirley Swenson, and brothers Kim Herbel and Kevin Herbel, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Corrine Herbel, infant brother, Curtis Herbel, and nephew, Jamison Swenson, her in-laws Marvin and Marjorie Bullinger and brother in law Garry Bullinger.

Funeral services will be held Friday, July 18th at 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Anne Nies officiating.  Visitation will be on Thursday, July 17th at Nero's Funeral Home from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to give a memorial please give to Turtle Mountain Cancer Support Inc., per Shelly's wishes.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at St. Andrew's Hospital for their kind and compassionate care towards Shelley and her family over the last two weeks.

Her family is grateful and honored to have been a part of the life of a truly strong, brave, beautiful, courageous, loving and compassionate woman.  She brought levity and warmth not only to her family, but to everyone who knew her.  She cared deeply about her family and friends, and her love and light will be greatly missed.  Her legacy will forever be her family, her passion, her humor and her love.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.