Shirley Ann (Belanger) Beckett (nee Ziegler) was born nearly 85 years ago to Elvira and Harvey Zeigler in the farmhouse on their dairy farm near Brillion, Wisconsin.
The family plans to celebrate her life often and boisterously in private, a private service in Oklahoma City March 6, 2021, but we all expect a post-COVID-19 memorial and celebration near Shirley’s farmhouse in Brillion, Wisconsin during the coming year.
Shirley was the youngest of the three Ziegler girls; sister Iris married Ed Van and ended up near Scottsdale, Arizona, and oldest sister Faith married Orlo Koerth, stayed home and ran Faylo Farms until just a few years ago.
The house where Shirley was born and grew up now is occupied by her nephew, Gary and Alice Koerth, and Shirley’s love for that place was evident throughout her whole life, even in her last days.
Shirley met and married her high school sweetheart, Eldred (El) Belanger at the young age of 19, and by age 26 was raising five children. One of Shirley’s early jobs, mostly to get some time away from mommy chores, was waiting tables in Green Bay, Wisconsin, near the Green Bay Packers’ headquarters. Serving Ray Nitsche coffee made Shirley a lifelong and rabid “cheesehead.”
In 1962, after seeing the difficulty of selling root beer year-round in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the A&W Drive In they ran together, Shirley, El and her clan piled into their Rambler and moved to the warmer plains of Weatherford.
For the next 26 years, Shirley ran the household and raised the lively fivesome, while El opened and ran various businesses, including several A&W’s, The Spot Restaurant near SWOSU’s campus, and a coffee and vending company serving the 3M plant.
Shirley was involved in all aspects of each venture, but spent most of her energy corralling five rambunctious kids; she was a gourmet cook, her German potato salad was unmatched, a church leader of the strongest faith, master gardener, soprano, artist, taxi driver, cheerleader and coach. Bert even remembers a well-deserved left hook. After the youngest Belanger entered college, Shirley herself earned a bachelor’s degree in art and later two master’s degrees in art and special education, both at SWOSU.
The farm girl in Shirley was never idle; watercolors, choir performances, selling Mary Kay, working for a radio station, GOP Women’s duties and hosting WHS Dutch exchange student Arthur Storimans kept this lady busy 24/7.
In 1988, Shirley and El left Weatherford and moved to the Austin area, which started a chapter that led her back to Oklahoma, where she taught special ed in the Moore school system for 10 years.
It was during those years she bumped into Ronald Beckett in ballroom dancing class. This commenced a 25-year romance and marriage with Ron which involved much fun, travel and, yes, dancing.
Upon their retirements, they sold their home and bought into an independent living apartment at Spanish Cove in Yukon. Early on, they enjoyed the activities and stayed involved at Church of the Servant, both singing in the choirs and enjoying the Lyric and other Oklahoma City offerings. They especially enjoyed their one and
They especially enjoyed their one and only streetcar ride. As their health declined, they moved through the continuum of care at Spanish Cove. Shirley’s “spunk” was a constant, especially when we retired their automobile, license plate: “2DANCRS.”
Shirley stayed active with exercise, her sewing and art, until those things were no longer physically possible for her. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shirley was able to stay in touch with her family through frequent FaceTime and GrandPad calls.
Ultimately, her precious body wore out, but Shirley maintained a steady faith in God, an amazing wit and a sassy sense of humor that has buoyed us all. There is no doubt her physical presence and strong voice (and opinions) will be greatly missed by us all, but Shirley is most certainly chatting and dancing with Jesus as you read this.
Survivors include: her husband, Ron, of Yukon; daughters, Barbara McKown Belanger and Michelle (Chelly) Quinn; sons, Bruce, Mark and Bert Belanger, and all of their wonderful families; five spouses, Randal McKown, Joe Quinn, Sarah Belanger, Debi Belanger and Paula Belanger; 12 grandchildren, Brooke Storer, Blake Belanger, Clay Quinn, Jill Tutle, Josh Quinn, Robert Belanger, Matthew Belanger, Jason Belanger, Alma (Allee) McKown, Lauren Merrell, Joe Merrell and Kaitlyn DeAngelis; 16 greatgrandchildren, you know who you are and how special each of you were to “Mama Shirl,” including the three babies on the way; her sister, Iris Van, and cherished her relationship with the Vans and the Koerths, especially godson, Gary Koerth.
Mom modeled strength, fortitude and an adventurous spirit for her five children. She taught each of us how to love, laugh and work hard, to be resilient and to enjoy the moment. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, any memorials be directed to the Church of the Servant.
The family also wants to say a special thanks to her angelic caregiver Connie Daniels, to Paula Avery, the owner of Caregiver Connections, and to the caring staffs at Spanish Cove, Mercy Hospital, INTEGRIS Hospice House and Lockstone Funeral Home. It took a whole village to get Shirley safely home.