Shirley Kitsch

Shirley Marie Kitsch, 89 of rural Garske, ND was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed away at Sheyenne Crossings, West Fargo ND and entered heaven on the morning of July 12th, 2022, in the loving care of her family.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Starkweather, ND. Visitation will be held Friday, July 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Rosary and Scripture Service at the Gilbertson Funeral Home in Devils Lake, ND with the Rosary led by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Deacon Ken Severinson leading the Scripture Service. Shirley will be laid to rest at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in rural Garske, ND. A lunch will be served following the burial services at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Devils Lake. 

Shirley was born to Adolph and Gertrude (Worms) Finneseth on August 1st, 1932. After graduating from high school in Munich in 1951 Shirley continued working with her father on the dray line, babysitting for local families and helped clean the local Catholic Church. It was at a street dance where Shirley met James (Jim) Kitsch, her future husband.

On May 16, 1953, Shirley and Jim were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Munich ND. They made their home in the Garske area where they lived, farmed and raised their six children, Joe, Barb, Susan, Carol, Nick and Bruce.

 Shirley was a life member of the Catholic Daughters where she served as Regent for four years, former member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, rural Garske until it closed and then became a member of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Starkweather. Shirley also served as Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She was active in the PTA, a member of the Homemakers and a 4H leader. 

 She loved attending the annual Kitsch Family reunion where she always brought her famous chocolate chip cookies, buns and baked beans. She also enjoyed her time at Munson Lake where her and Jim resided for 17 years together during the summer months. Shirley also loved to head south to Arizona during the brutal North Dakota winters. From there, she became an avid Phoenix Suns fan. She would call her grandchildren and talk about basketball. She enjoyed many other adventures with her family including trips to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Canada and Alaska (where she out fished all of Jim’s fishing buddies. Legend has it she caught an 80-pound halibut on that trip.)

 Shirley loved making quilts for her family, friends and community. If you needed a quilt Shirley is who you called. Shirley was proud of the hundreds of quilts she made for the Veterans, the Detroit Lakes Crisis Center, local hospitals, churches, family and friends over the course of her life. When she wasn’t making quilts she was busy making her special hangers for everyone she knew. Shirley kept a daily journal of the events of the family since the 1970’s. 

She is survived by her children; Joe Kitsch of rural Garske, Barbara (Steven) Jager of Jamestown ND, Susan (Rodney) Brossart of Lakota ND, Carol (Todd) Erickson of Sidney MT, Nick (Charlotte) Kitsch and Bruce (Rita) Kitsch all of rural Garske; eighteen grandchildren: Bryan Jager, Kelsey (Justin) Howland and Tyler (Shelby) Jager; Scott (Loretta), Abby (fiancé Jon Schumann), Alex (Mary), Thomas, Jacob, Heidi, Molly and Jack Brossart; Caleb (Jonetta) Erickson and Ariana (Steve) Mathias; Andrew (Ashley) Kitsch, Matthew Kitsch, Kathryn Kitsch; Michael (Rachel) Kitsch and Erica (Jace) Peterson; sixteen great grandchildren: Gertrude, Hawkins and Wallace Howland; Cooper Jager; Hanna and Preston Brossart; Mazikeen Brossart; Madison, Morgan, Trinity and Linnea Erickson; Marcus Mathias; Eleanor Kitsch; Sophie and Grace Kitsch; Clint Peterson; brother, Robert Finneseth, Grand Forks, ND; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Marilyn Finneseth, Northfield, MN, Dennis Kitsch, Mark and Angie Kitsch and Anita Adahl all of Devils Lake; many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Jim, granddaughter Chrissy Brossart, parents Adolph and Gertrude, brothers Palmer “Pinky” Finneseth, Ted Finneseth and John “Jackie” Finneseth, sisters Lorraine (Harold) Morley, Marian (Darwin) Rott and Jean (Jim) Wills, sisters-in-law Donna (Bob) Erickson, Lois Kitsch (Infant) and brother-in-law Jack Kitsch