Dr. Shirley Fischer Arends, a true American patriot and heroine, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on August 17, 2025, at her home in McLean, Virginia. She lived a remarkable and impactful life through her 88th year, leaving an indelible mark on her family, community, and nation.

Born on July 20, 1937, in the Dakota Territory, Shirley grew up on her family’s homestead in the borderlands of North and South Dakota. The granddaughter of pioneers who journeyed to the Dakotas by wagon train, she was the daughter of Emma Frederika Bendewald Fischer and Christoph Fischer, civic-minded farmers who embodied the American dream. Raised in Ashley, North Dakota, Shirley spent her childhood cooking with her mother and devouring every book she could find, fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Shirley’s journey took her from the plains of North Dakota to a distinguished 52-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency, where she served with unparalleled dedication to God, country, and the American people. After graduating from Ashley High School in 1955, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Teaching from North Dakota State University and a master’s degree from Kent State University on a scholarship. Her passion for languages led her to postgraduate studies at the University of Göttingen in Germany and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, where she mastered the German language and Schwäbisch dialect. A renowned historian and linguist, Shirley earned her PhD in German language from Georgetown University in 1988, graduating with unanimous distinction. Her seminal work, *The Central Dakota Germans*, solidified her reputation as a scholar, and she became the first American to pass the German language exam for the United Nations.

Shirley’s career in counterintelligence was marked by extraordinary bravery and impact. In 1959, responding to an advertisement in the *International Herald Tribune* seeking an “American girl,” she arrived at the American school in Frankfurt, expecting a teaching role. Instead, she was recruited by the CIA to hunt Nazis who had evaded justice after the Nuremberg Trials. Over the course of her early career, Shirley led efforts that resulted in the apprehension and prosecution of over 1,900 Nazis who had infiltrated the German government, earning her numerous medals for courage.

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Shirley spearheaded the U.S. team that received and analyzed the entirety of the Stasi files from East Germany, uncovering the Soviet-era secret police’s infiltration of West Germany. Her leadership in this operation led to the arrest and prosecution of numerous spies, earning her the prestigious Bundesverdienstkreuz, Germany’s highest civilian honor, presented by Chancellor Helmut Kohl and President Roman Herzog. Shirley’s contributions extended to establishing a vital intelligence entity within the Department of Homeland Security, for which she received the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. Over her career, she was honored with the National Certificate of Distinction, 13 exceptional performance awards, and multiple letters of appreciation for her bravery in high-stakes missions. Upon her retirement, the CIA Director awarded her the Career Intelligence Medal, recognizing her profound impact on the global intelligence community.

Throughout her career, Shirley lived in Frankfurt, Bonn, Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, Vienna, Geneva, and McLean, Virginia. Despite her high-stakes professional life, she cherished simple joys—reading voraciously, playing with her cats, and feeding the squirrels and birds from her McLean porch.

Shirley’s unmatched willpower, courage, and sharp wit defined her life. Her adventurous spirit and quick mind live on in her family, who will deeply miss her. She is survived by her daughter, Jackie Arends of Keswick, VA; her son, Chris Arends (Bridget) of San Diego, CA; and her beloved granddaughter, Caroline Cruze of Alexandria, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emma and Christoph Fischer of Ashley, ND.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Friday, October 10, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, Ashley, led by Pasto Ryan Gage. She will be laid to rest in the family plot beside her parents at the Zion Church Cemetery. Organist will be Steve Glaesmann; the congregation will sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”; Soloist Terry Ulrich will sing “Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound” and “Faith of our Fathers” and usher will be Denny Hoffman.

Casketbearers will be Curtis Bendewald, Eric Schock, and Darvin Fischer of Ashley; LeRoy Bendewald of Oakes, ND; Steve Fischer of Bismarck, ND; and Shirley’s son, Chris.

A Celebration of Life will be held later in October in McLean, Virginia, for friends and loved ones to gather and honor her memory.

In recognition of Shirley’s lifelong commitment to education, the Shirley Fischer Arends Education Fund has been established at the North Dakota Community Foundation. This endowment will provide educational opportunities for future generations in Ashley, ND. Contributions may be sent to:

**North Dakota Community Foundation**

PO Box 387

Bismarck, ND 58502

Please note “Shirley Fischer Arends Fund” in the memo line. All gifts are tax-deductible, and donation receipts will be mailed to donors.

Though we grieve her loss, we find solace in knowing Shirley’s spirit rests peacefully in the arms of her Lord and Savior, the reunion she faithfully awaited. Her legacy of courage, service, and love endures in the hearts of all who knew her.

Services are in care of Carlsen-Lien Chapel, Ashley.