Shirley Van Pelt Bradford June 19, 1935 - April 28, 2026

Shirley Joan Kane Van Pelt Bradford passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026, surrounded by love and leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faith, creativity, and deep devotion to family.

She was born on June 19, 1935, in Boise, Idaho, to Mildred Read Kane and William Preston Kane. Shirley grew up near the Boise River. Summers were spent swimming, picnicking, and lying along the riverbanks with her siblings. She was raised in a large and loving family and was one of eleven children, with siblings: Alma, Alva, Helen, Bob, Glen, Violet, Donna, Patty, Mary, and Grant. Though material means were modest, Shirley often said they never felt as though they went without. Their mother sewed bed sheets from muslin flour sacks, and Shirley fondly remembered sharing paper dolls with her sisters—purchased with the treasured twenty-five cents she received each birthday. Her siblings were her first and closest friends, and family remained the center of her life always. In 1939, she was sealed with her family in the Logan Temple, an experience that deeply influenced her lifelong faith.

Shirley lived through significant periods of history and learned the value of hard work at a young age. At just fourteen years old, she began working as a waitress at the Tic Toc Café, taking pride in earning her own way. Throughout her life, she was never afraid of hard or demanding work and willingly took on whatever was needed to support herself and her family.

She attended business school for a time and later worked as a clerk for the court. While her jobs were often challenging, Shirley approached every responsibility with determination and integrity. That same work ethic carried over into her personal life, where she was always striving to improve herself and thoughtfully nurtured her many creative talents. She found great satisfaction in hand-making porcelain dolls, sewing doll clothes, knitting, and painting beautiful watercolor pieces.

Shirley met her first husband, Richard Van Pelt, through her sister Donna. After six months of dating, they were married on February 12, 1955. They began their life together in Boise, thereafter, living in Pennsylvania, Illinois and finally Utah. Together, Shirley and Richard raised three children: Dane, Kim, and Scott. Shirley was a devoted mother who deeply loved her children.

Shirley treasured preserving stories, records, and connections across generations. She dedicated countless hours to genealogy work, driven by her deep belief in the eternal nature of families and the sacred importance of sealing loved ones together. Her faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was central to her life, and she held a strong testimony that guided her actions and outlook. Shirley sought to ensure that families—past, present, and future—would be united forever, a belief that brought her great purpose and joy.

Following the loss of her first husband, Shirley was blessed to find lasting love with Paul Bradford. Paul was truly the love of her life, and their marriage was marked by kindness, devotion, and a tender companionship that brought great comfort and happiness to them both.

Shirley loved to travel and was fortunate to explore various countries. Closer to home, she especially cherished visits to the national parks, finding joy in their beauty and the time spent there with family. She loved family gatherings and celebrations. Halloween was a favorite, and she was famously known for her exceptional costumes. She enjoyed family Christmas traditions, including white-elephant exchanges. And she delighted hearing her family sing “Happy Birthday” together, cheerfully and unapologetically off-key.

Though Shirley never had much in a material sense, she lived a life of remarkable generosity. Her home was always open to others—she welcomed people to stay with her when they needed a place, freely gave her time, and regularly invited family and friends to share a meal. More than anything, Shirley had a gift for uplifting those around her through her encouragement and heartfelt concern. She was especially mindful of those serving others, and she took great joy in supporting missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Giving was not something she did on occasion; it was how she lived every day. Shirley believed, “The greatest happiness you will ever know comes from what you give, not what you get,” a conviction she reflected daily through her kindness and generosity.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Paul Bradford; her children, Dane (Patti), Kim (Jim, deceased), and Scott (Alanna); Paul’s children, Lynn (deceased) (Cindy), Karen (Glen), Jerry (Lynette), and Diane (Steve); and over 20 grandchildren and 80 greatgrandchildren who love her dearly and will forever cherish her example and their countless memories with her. Shirley will be remembered for her gentle nature, creative talents, strong faith, and the boundless love she had for her family. She lived a life of service and generosity that continues to bless those who knew her.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse located at 2162 East Canyon Road, Spanish Fork, Utah, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing prior to the funeral from 9:45-10:45 a.m. An additional viewing will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Shirley will be laid to rest at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.