Shirley F. 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. 

T he 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.

To leave an online message of condolence, please visit our website at www.doughertyofhibbing.com.