Shirley Choquette

Shirley Choquette, 89, of Hibbing, died December 6, 2019 at St.

Luke’s Hospital, Duluth, following a brief illness.

Shirley was born in Stambaugh, MI on August 31, 1930, the

daughter of Otto and Ruth (Forsberg) Hanson.

Shortly after she graduated from high school, Shirley married

Wally Choquette, her high school sweetheart, and worked as a

secretary for the Social Security Administration. She was a

member of First Lutheran Church in Iron River, MI. In 1971,

Shirley and Wally moved to Hibbing, MN.

Shirley loved her church and community. She was an active

member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church serving on the Altar

Guild and Women’s Circle. Shirley was a member of the Hibbing

Area Women’s Club, Hanna Mining Retirees, and Sons of

Norway. She was a founding member of the Shirley Club where

every member was named Shirley. She greatly enjoyed community

concerts, organ recitals, and choral music.

Hospitality and friendship were a focus in her life. She often

appeared at the door of a friend with a smile and a plate of goodies

or a card as a reminder that she was thinking of them, or she

appreciated them. Her contagious laughter and storytelling were

hallmark traits of her personality. She was always going out of her

way to be thoughtful and kind. Shirley lived a life of optimism and

joy.

Shirley lived at the Hibbing Real Life Cooperative for fourteen

years. Her treasured friends there provided Shirley with a sense of

community, and support. She loved living there among friends new

and old.

Shirley was preceded in death by Wally and her brother, Bob

Hanson. She is survived by children Mike (Annette) of Blaine,

MN, Dave (Nancy)of Duluth, MN, and Lisa (Rick) Nelson of

Minneapolis, MN, grandchildren Jessica and Matthew Choquette,

Christopher (Emily Genung), Andrew, Ellen Choquette, Sam and

Tommy Nelson, and great grandson Teddy Choquette.

The family would like to thank Dr. Amy Hilde-Philips and the staff

at the Hibbing Family Medical Clinic, the staff of St. Luke’s

Hospital and Clinic, and the Fairview Range Medical Center for

the excellent and compassionate care provided over the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s

Lutheran Church, Hibbing MN, or Friends of the Hibbing Public

Library.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Our

Savior’s Lutheran Church, Hibbing MN. Visitation will begin at

10 AM and the service to follow at 11 AM.