Menke-Anne "Mickey" Whiteside

Menke Anne Shaffer Sharp Whiteside was born 10/4/1935 in Colorado Springs. Her parents were LM Shaffer and Ella Menke (“Dutch”) Shaffer. She was known as Menke Anne by family and “Mickey” by friends. She spent her early childhood in Colorado Springs and moved with her mother to California. While in California, she attended St. Monica Catholic High School and was a Song Girl while she attended the University of Southern California.

Summers were spent in beautiful Southern Colorado at Menkhaven-on-the-Conejos which her mother built and ran with her sisters, Gladys and Hazel. The Lodge was a popular place for people who sought an escape from the hot summers and many of the guests became lifelong friends.

Menke Anne/Mickey returned to Colorado to attend The University of Denver from which she graduated in 1957 with a degree in Bachelor of Arts. While at DU, Menke Anne/Mickey met and married Barry Sharp, a DU hockey player from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Barry died tragically following an accident at a hockey practice. Menke Anne swore off hockey players and began teaching elementary school in the Cherry Creek School District.

After an appropriate time, Murray Armstrong, the DU hockey coach and a friend of Mickey’s, decided she needed to meet someone new. That someone was Defenseman Cy Whiteside, from DU’s archrival Colorado College. Despite Mickey’s response to the suggestion, “THAT ANIMAL?” Murray finally prevailed and the introduction was made. Cy and Mickey eventually married in August 1962 and raised 4 children together. They celebrated 51 years of marriage before his death in 2014.

Known for her spirited personality and unwavering convictions, Mickey was small in stature but mighty in presence. She stood up for what she believed in and for those she loved. She was a trusted confidante, always ready to talk, listen, or offer sage advice—support that extended not just to her own family, but to their friends and beyond. Her wisdom is already deeply missed.

Mickey stayed at home shuttling kids to school and athletic practices while Cy traveled for work. She was active in the community wherever they lived. She showed her Samoyed, Duke, while living in Farmington, NM. After the family expanded to two kids, a new job took them to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, not too far from Cy’s hometown. Mickey drove the kids to St. William Elementary and swimming lessons and was involved in the school. For one Christmas pageant at St. Williams, Cyndy was the Christmas tree. A cardboard cutout of a tree was not what Mickey had in mind. She sent Cy to a tree lot to get a tree, and took Cyndy’s hula-hoop, sewed a sheet over it, and proceeded to attach the boughs from the tree Cy bought. It was amazing! We wish a picture of it survived. Not to be outdone, she also helped Rob portray one of the Ten Lords-a-Leaping at the same pageant.

A job transfer sent the family from Calgary to Oklahoma City with four kids in tow. They spent four years in OKC before moving to Colorado Springs. Again, her time was spent shuttling the kids to and from school and sports and maintaining the household.

Cy and Mickey moved to Woodland Park in the early 1990s where they lived until Cy’s death in 2014. Mickey then moved into an apartment built for her by her daughter Lanny and son-in-law Greg. Mickey enjoyed her time with the family; especially watching her grandchildren grow up.

Like her mother and aunts before her, Mickey was a proud member of the Territorial Daughters of Colorado, an organization founded in 1910 to “preserve and perpetuate the pioneer history of the State of Colorado.” Membership is reserved for women who can trace their ancestry to pioneers who lived in Colorado on or before August 1, 1876—a legacy Mickey honored with pride.

Wherever life took her, Mickey made lasting friendships. Many of her dearest friends were parents of her children's friends, and those relationships became as cherished as family.

Mickey was also a woman of deep faith. She held her family, friends, and community close in prayer every day.

Mickey was looking forward to celebrating her 90th birthday at which she planned to thank those who meant so much to her during her life.

Mickey’s advice, her knowledge about many different subjects, and her sense of fun will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Mickey is survived by her children: Cyndy (Tom); Rob; Jennifer (Scott); Lanny (Greg); Grandchildren: Kaitlyn (Jacob); Zachary; Cyril James; and Madeline. She is survived by three Great Grandchildren: Braylie, Tucker, and Emilia. Sawyer, a great-grandchild, predeceased her. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces and their families.