Shirley Christine Zook

Shirley Christine Zook, age 90, of Beach, North Dakota passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at St. Alexius Health in Dickinson, North Dakota. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at St. John's Catholic Church in Beach. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 22, 2023 at St. John's Catholic Church with Father Nicholas Vetter officiating. Rite of Committal will follow at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Beach. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements. Shirley was born October 13, 1932 at home in Carlyle, Montana, the daughter of Louis P. Larson and Nellie (Jakin) Larson. She received her education at Quale (formerly Badlands) School until eighth grade then attended high school in Wibaux, Montana, graduating in 1950. Shirley attended Miles Community College for practical nursing. On October 11, 1952, Shirley married Ralph Zook at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Beach. Shirley and Ralph lived at the farm, seven miles south of Beach, where they raised five children until they moved to town in 1988. Shirley loved farm life, gardening, flowers, baking, cooking, canning, her chickens, and any creature that happened to wander into their yard or be orphaned by an unfortunate haying incident. Nobody ever went hungry at Shirley’s. She enjoyed hosting many family holiday meals, midnight breakfasts, and the South of Beach monthly women’s breakfasts with neighbor ladies. Upon entering her house, her candy drawer and cookie containers were the first point of contact for her kids and grandkids. She bowled in leagues at Bob’s Lanes, enjoyed downhill and waterskiing, camping with family and friends, and golfing. Shirley’s creativity was boundless. She created countless delicious “Shirley cakes” for every occasion imaginable, and they were hauled precariously to events near and far. She taught ceramics in her in-home shop, “Shirley’s Ceramics”, and led Cub Scout and Girl Scout Troops. Shirley designed and created costumes and sets for children’s school programs, proms, and parades. She was also regarded as the Queen of Halloween and created the most clever and unique Halloween costumes for four generations of family and friends. No one in the family could go around a corner in her house without bracing to be scared by a “boo” or a terrifying mask…her uncontrollable giggles still echo in our ears. Shirley was a devoted member of Saint John the Baptist Church. She served as a Eucharistic minister, sacristan, and greeter. She also served in St. Anne’s Altar Guild and often did whatever she saw needed to be done. The lunch boxes are empty, the mixer is silent, the apples are waiting to be harvested, and the little white pickup is missing from her favorite parking spot behind the church…Shirley will be deeply missed by family, friends, and community near and far as she touched many lives. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Ralph; brother, Calvin; and sisters, Lucille, Babe, and Lola. Shirley is survived by her children, Vicki, Owatonna, MN, Mike (Leah), Cindy (Bob) Makelky, Steve (Carey), and Paul (Tami Fricke), Beach; thirteen grandchildren, Troy (Sharon) Kreitinger, Byron, MN; Brooke (Paul Listrani) Kreitinger, Greensboro, NC; Noah (Jenna) Kreitinger, Owatonna, MN; Rusty (Hillary) Makelky, Sentinel Butte; Emily (Brandon) Richard, Belfield, ND; Clay Makelky, Belfield, ND; Owen (Rachel) Makelky, Fryburg, ND; Allyssa (Bo) Liekhus, Omaha, NE; Nolan Zook, Beach; Bailey Waldal, Salt Lake City, UT; Ariana (Tim Grounds) Zook, Fargo, ND; Myia Zook, Phoenix, AZ; Zoey Zook, Beach; thirteen great-grandchildren, Taylor Kreitinger, Minneapolis, MN; Brady Kreitinger, Wahpeton, ND; Isaac and Isabel Kreitinger, Owatonna, MN; Emmet, Eversynn and Finley Richard, Belfield, ND; Dane and Jensen Makelky, Sentinel Butte; Benson and Banks Liekhus, Omaha, NE; Matthias Listrani, Greensboro, NC; Tymber Makelky, Fryburg, ND; four siblings, Virgil (Laura) Larson, Wibaux, MT; Alice Johnson, Liberty Lake, WA; Sidney Fleck, Mandan, ND; Bob (Lora) Larson, Aberdeen, SD; sister-in-law, Glennette Hobbs, Laguna Woods, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Shirley Christine Zook

October 13, 1932 - September 14, 2023

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Shirley Christine Zook

October 13, 1932 - September 14, 2023

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support