Shirley Ann (Belcourt) Mootz

Shirley Ann (Belcourt) Mootz, 83, passed away on October 6, 2024. She had an active and long life. 

Shirley was born on February 4, 1941, as one of five children and grew up in Westhope and Brocket, ND. She met her one and only love, James (Jim) Mootz, while they were in high school. She graduated from Lakota High School where she was named the school’s first Homecoming Queen. After high school, she attended the University of North Dakota and worked as a Northwestern Bell telephone operator. Shirley and Jim were married on September 15, 1962. Shirley’s domestic talents shown early as she sewed her own wedding dress. Their high school courtship belies the endurance of their love and marriage, which lasted more than 62 years. They enjoyed an active social life with a wide network of friends and coworkers and travelled extensively. 

Once the children were in school, Shirley had a varied career in retail, health care as a dietician, manager of multiple Hallmark stores, and became a paraprofessional in education. In addition to her employment, Shirley found time to teach bridge for 20 years at the Winona YWCA. She and Jim enjoyed bridge and were the Winona City Champions a number of times over the years. 

Shirley’s highest priority was family; you could always find her in the stands cheering on her children’s or grandchildren’s sporting and music events. In addition, she contributed to the likes of church council, 4H, Brownies, Cub Scouts, and PTA. Shirley and Jim called Winona home for over 55 years. In retirement, Shirley and Jim traveled extensively and visited six of the seven continents with memorable experiences in Europe, North Africa, South America, North America, Australia, and Asia. Wherever her travels took her, Shirley would seek out opportunities to create lasting memories. Shirley and Jim spent their winter months for 20 years in Mesa, AZ, where they would dance and listen to big band music, as well as play bridge while enjoying the warmth of the sun.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Wilma (Derr) Belcourt and sisters Mary (Studheit) and Dorothy (Dot)(Henke). She is survived by her husband, Jim; their five children, Terry (Tammy) Mootz of Chicago, IL, Kathy (Larry) Jensen of Onalaska, WI, Cheryl (Tom) Kraus of Green Bay, WI, Tom (Anne) Mootz of Eagan, MN, and Michael (Heather) Mootz of Buffalo, MN; nine grandchildren, Jon (Jinny) Mootz, Scott (Carrie) Mootz, Allison (Josh) Justin, Bethany Snyder, Jason (Sarah) Kraus, Samantha (Luke) Johnson, Andrea Kraus, Madeline Mootz, and Ian Mootz; and, three great-grandchildren, Cameron and Leif Mootz and Ellie Kraus; also, brothers Rick (Mary) Belcourt of Kansas City, MO and Joe (Susan) Belcourt, Grand Forks, ND.

Our family would also like to recognize the medical professionals at Winona Health (Dr. Richard Ferris), the entire Winona Health Hospice team, and Gundersen Health System (Dr. Gil Harmon) for their dedication, professionalism, and kindness allowing Shirley’s final days to be lived actively, meaningfully, and gracefully.

If you knew Shirley, you knew of her grace, kindness, happiness and pure enjoyment for life. Please join us for a celebration of her life at a visitation to be held at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, 376 E. Sarnia St., Winona, on Friday, October 18, 2024, from 4 PM to 6 PM, where a prayer service will be held at 5:30 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Winona, MN, preceded by a visitation at 10:00 AM in the Church Commons. A luncheon will be held in Marian Hall of St. Mary’s Church following the Mass. The Mass will be live streamed via the St Mary’s website (https://stmaryswinona.org). A private burial will take place at a later date.

Memorials are preferred towards the Winona State University Foundation - Mootz Family Scholarship, Somsen Hall 204, PO Box 5838, Winona, MN 55987, or St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1303 W. Broadway Winona, MN 55987.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Shirley’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.