Shirley Ann Jean Kathleen Schulte

The evening of Saturday, February 17, Shirley Ann Jean Kathleen Watembach Schulte, 85, peacefully left her earthly life, while holding her Rosary and her granddaughter, Danielle's hand at Richardton Health Center in Richardton, North Dakota, Shirley was born to John and Florence (Sinz) Watembach on December 30, 1938, at the family home south of Wibaux, Montana. She joined an older sister, Joan, and was followed by a brother, David, and a sister, Dorothy. Shirley attended the South Center Country School for grade school, and then she and her siblings moved into a boarding house in Wibaux to attend high school. She babysat the Bruski and Meek children to earn her spending money; earning 50 cents a week babysitting was like earning a million dollars in her eyes. "Shurdy" had many great stories from her babysitting days. After high school, Shirley moved to Beach, North Dakota to work in Gordon Olson's bakery. It was there that she learned her famous skills of making homemade bread and potato donuts. While working at the Bakery, she met her future–husband, Larry and they were married within six months of meeting one another. Larry and Shirley welcomed their first son, John,” Nine months, twenty-one days and X number of minutes” after they were married (she loved to tell people that, except she knew how many minutes and seconds it was too) with Jim, Darrel, Dennis, and Susan joining the family within the next seven years. Shirley enjoyed her job as a full-time, stay-at-home mom until the fall of 1981, when she was volunteered to be the cook for Golva Schools. Larry was a member of the school board, it was just days before school was to start, and there was still nobody to cook for the kids. Larry came home from the board meeting, and Shirley asked if they had gotten a cook, Larry said, "Yes." Shirley was quite surprised when she asked who the cook was, and he told her it was her. She took on the job for one year, which actually turned into over two decades of baking fresh buns daily. During those years as the cook, she earned many honors and became the president of the North Dakota School Food Service. As president, she traveled to many national conventions. At one convention, Shirley met Governor Bill Clinton from Arkansas, and at another she met the Olympic gymnast, Mary Lou Retton and brought home an autographed photo for Susan (all of the other mothers/cooks thought it was so kind of Shirley to get that photo, but her real reasons were that a photo was easy to pack, and Susan was absolutely nauseated by Mary Lou, so it was the perfect gag gift; that stupid photo is probably still in a box somewhere in Susan's house). After Shirley and Harry Honda retired from the school, she spent her time crocheting, sewing, and creating plastic canvas creations. Shirley's faith was always important to her. In the 1970's, she was a part of the neighborhood ladies' group that got together at someone's house each week and said the Rosary (and then ate a yummy dessert and visited for a bit–never gossiped, though). Later on, she and Larry said the Rosary each night before they went to bed. Shirley is survived by her oldest son, John of Dickinson, ND; son, Darrel (Heidi) of Hebron, ND; son, Dennis (Christine) of Ocean Shores, WA; daughter, Susan (Jerry) of Circle, MT; daughter-in-law, Lori Schulte of Golva; sister, Joan Berger; brother, David (Diane) Watembach; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Delbert (Sherry) Schulte; special family friend, Susan Zier; grandchildren, Suzanne, Lewis, Derek (Amy), Dan (Tabetha), Kevin, RaeAnn (Ken), Brandon, Theodore (Grace), Danielle, Wyatt, Kyle, Chris (Amber), Crystal, Catarina (Paxton), Jeremy (Melissa), Josh (Leigha), Jesse (Sarah), Kiffin, and Kayla; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents, John and Florence Watembach; son, Jim; granddaughter, Courtney; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Madeline Schulte; sister-in-law, Jean Schulte; sister-in-law, Carolyn Michael; brother-in-law, Don Berger; and brothers-in-law, Dominik and Ralph Job. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM until 7:00 with a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Golva. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, June 21, 2024, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Adam Maus officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Shirley Ann Jean Kathleen Schulte

December 30, 1938 - February 17, 2024

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Shirley Ann Jean Kathleen Schulte

December 30, 1938 - February 17, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

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Grief & Healing

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365 Days of Grief Support