beloved
SHARON KRISTIE DUNNIGAN…

…was born on May 3, 1962 in Hazen, North Dakota near the Stuhlmiller farm. Sharon was the fourth child welcomed into the family of Arthur and Hannah Stuhlmiller and joined her three older siblings Wayne, Kaylen, and Kerry. When Sharon was six months old, her family moved to Bismarck, North Dakota where they welcomed her two younger siblings, Tamara and Mark, and she attended Pioneer Elementary, Simle Junior High, and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1980. 

Sharon’s childhood was marked by family, summer’s spent on the Stuhlmiller farm, and gatherings filled with music, German cooking, and joyous memories she told throughout her lifetime. Sharon would often recall the joy of Grandma Minnie’s house and the beauty of Grandma Frances’s garden. She was significantly impacted by her Grandma Frances, who not only taught her the beauty of God’s creation in flowers and how to tenderly care for them, but taught her about Jesus and the importance of building one's life upon His solid rock. Throughout her life, she would often recall the book Grandma Frances would read to her about building on solid rock versus sinking sand. That simple truth helped to form Sharon into a woman who chose Jesus and chose to build upon His Word in all she did. 

Sharon was known for her radiant smile, iconic laugh, and impeccable style. Fashion and styling was second nature to Sharon, whether in clothing or home decor, she left her mark. Upon graduating from high school she spent years working in retail until her reality as a small-town girl who longed to see the world and get out of the cold of North Dakota grabbed a hold of her. She took a leap and successfully pursued her dream of becoming a flight attendant in Tempe, Arizona where she had spent time at her parents’ winter home. With stories of new friends, traveling across the USA, and finding ways to spend sunny days at the beach on a budget and a tight timeline, Sharon had the time of her life. Until the very end, she’d laugh and glow recalling her season spent in the skies.

After a few years, Sharon moved back to Bismarck, North Dakota where love knocked on her door. In 1985, on the night before Thanksgiving, Sharon met the man who changed everything: Kevin Dunnigan. Sharon always said she knew he was the one and had actually seen his photo in the newspaper just days prior to meeting him and was wondering who the handsome guy was! On August 14, 1987, Sharon and Kevin were married in Bismarck surrounded by countless family and friends and began their life together. One year later, Sharon’s greatest and longest-held dream of becoming a mother would come true as they welcomed their firstborn daughter, Alexa into the world. Shortly after the birth of Alexa, they packed their lives and headed west towards the mountains of Kalispell, Montana to pioneer something new for their family. There, they purchased their dream home and the place they’d welcome three more children: Kristie, Taylor, and Macy. Sharon and Kevin spent 10 joyous years in Montana raising their kids, chasing their dreams, and making the home they had always dreamt of for their family  — it was even featured in the newspaper for its impeccable flower beds because of Sharon’s gifts and passion for the garden!

In 1999, Sharon, Kevin, and their four children moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where they began a whole new season together. Here, they built their first home and Sharon’s joy was found in her children. Whether it was her 50th soccer game or 20th dance recital, she was always front and center and her children’s biggest and greatest fan. Sharon was also a woman of great faith and modeled for her family and so many what it looked like to fully trust, cry out to, and follow Jesus. People would often ask Sharon how she raised the kids she did, to which she’d always smile and say, “The prayers of a mother are powerful.” 

Sharon spent her free time in the garden, going on walks, serving people, or joining the spontaneous Harley rides, road trips, boating adventures, and other adventures her husband was known for taking her on. Sharon also carried a zeal and passion for travel and got to see so much of the world beside her husband, her favorite places being Germany, Greece, and Italy. She was burdened with God’s love for the impoverished, the oppressed, and the needy and spent much of her time serving locally or traveling globally to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever He led her. Specifically, Sharon cherished her times spent in Cambodia and Peru the most for the children God allowed her to love and to serve in those regions of the world. The adventure didn’t stop there, as Sharon also pursued getting her pilot’s license and got back to the skies, but this time she was the one flying the plane! 

Sharon was never an easy one to define. She was a woman of surprises. A woman of dignity, beauty, femininity, childlike faith, spontaneity, and love like no other. She left a mark of beauty and warmth on whatever she touched. She took God at His word and impacted many as she lived every day for an audience of One. She shared the reality of Jesus simply by displaying His love and grace. At the end of it all, she lived her greatest dream in life, which was to be a wife, a mother, and to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. 

In January of 2019, Sharon was diagnosed with cancer. After a two-year battle fought with courage, faith, resilience, and grace, Sharon was carried to her eternal home while her husband and children held her hand. Together, they cherish every moment with her in the last year of her life on Marco Island, Florida. To live by the sea and sand was a lifelong dream of hers that even in her last days, she couldn’t believe had come true. 

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Sharon is survived by her husband Kevin Dunnigan, daughter Alexa, daughter Kristie, son Taylor, daughter Macy and son-in-love Blake; her mother Hannah Stuhlmiller; brothers Wayne (Sandra) Stuhlmiller, Kerry Stuhlmiller; Mark (Georgia) Stuhlmiller; and two sisters Kaylen (Leland) Morast; and Tamara (Wayne) Stuhlmiller Sellner.

Her many cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, and her many special and dear friends.

Sharon was preceded in death by her father Art Stuhlmiller, Grandparents Albert and Minnie Stuhlmiller, Grandparents Christ and Frances Miller.

Sharon was a remarkable gift to all who got the privilege of loving and being loved by her. She was a remarkable gift to the world. Her legacy of sharing the love of Jesus, caring for the poor, fighting injustice, and caring for children will live on through her four children and through a foundation her husband and children have created in her honor: The Rose of Sharon Foundation. 

Memorials can be made to the foundation to carry forth her legacy and the dreams God placed within her heart.