She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Axtell, Nebraska where she remained a lifetime member. Sheila graduated from Holdrege High School in 1960.
Most important in Sheila’s life was her family. Until her health started to fail she never missed a chance to celebrate a holiday, birthday, important family event, dance recital, special event at her beloved Bethany Lutheran Church or just a weekend home with her mother.
Her passion for nursing/education spanned her entire life starting as a nursing assistant to national recognition for her contributions to the nursing profession. She became a Registered Nurse after graduating from the Immanuel Hospital School of Nursing in 1964. After graduation she worked in the Immanuel Hospital Emergency Department. While attending UNO she worked as a Nursing Supervisor until she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UNO in 1968. After graduation she received coronary care training at the University of Kansas Medical Center and returned to Immanuel in Inservice Education where she set up the educational program for teaching nurses how to care for coronary patients. She eventually became Director of Inservice Education. She received her Master of Arts in Hospital Education from Arizona State University in 1973 and returned to Immanuel and would eventually become their Director of Nursing. In 1980 she earned her Certificate in Advanced Nursing Administration and joined Lincoln General Hospital as their Assistant Administrator for Nursing and eventually their Assistant Administrator for Patient Care Services. In 1988 her career took a different path joining the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Nebraska Board of Nursing as an Educational Consultant, a position she held for 25 years. During this period she received her PhD in Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997.
She received numerous awards and recognitions throughout her almost 60 years in the nursing profession. In 1995 through 2009 she served on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) being an active member and eventual Chairperson on the Examination Committee, arguably the most important committee for NCSBN. In 2009 she was awarded the Meritorious Service Award from the NCSBN. As recognition of her 25 years of service with the State of Nebraska she became an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska on July 26, 2013. In 2015 Sheila was the fourth inductee into the Nebraska Nurses Association Hall of Fame.
Sheila was involved with the Midland University’s Nursing Advisory Committee to transition the Immanuel School of Nursing Diploma Program to a Baccalaureate Degree Program with a Major in Nursing. She played an active role in the Nebraska Assembly of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs. Sheila was a lifetime member of the Nebraska Nursing Association and American Nursing Association. Later in her career she was an Adjunct Professor with Nebraska Wesleyan University. Sheila had a keen sense of knowing which direction nursing would take and always worked towards that goal. For this reason, she is remembered for her dedication to the advancement of nursing.
While working at Lincoln General Sheila experienced Hollywood when she was asked to be Technical Advisor for the Academy Award winning movie Terms of Endearment. She recalls Jack Nicholson asking her advice on how to act out a fainting spell.
In addition to her parents, Sheila was preceded in death by her grandparents Walter and Martha (Almquist) Exstrom and Arthur and Alvida (Soderquist) Danielson, brother Lyle Exstrom, sister-in-law Phyllis (Johnson) Exstrom and nephew Lance Exstrom.
Those left to celebrate her life are her brothers LeMoyne Exstrom and Bryce (Kay) Exstrom, sister-in-law Linda Exstrom, nephews Kent (Janet) Exstrom and Chris (Suzanne) Exstrom, nieces Jennifer (Bill) Nipper and Katelyn (finance James Kyhn) Exstrom, grandnephews Kyle (Bailey) Exstrom, Geoffrey Exstrom and Robert Exstrom, grandniece Andrea Exstrom, lifelong forever friend Lucy Hansen, cousins, friends and colleagues.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024 at First Lutheran Church, 1551 S. 70th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506. Visitation will take place from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at Roper and Sons Funeral Home-Midtown Chapel, 4300 “O” Street, Lincoln, NE 68510. Graveside services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024 at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Axtell, NE.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Midland University Division of Nursing.