Shirley O'Keefe

Memorial services for Shirley O’Keefe, of Pelican Rapids, formerly of Morris, Minnesota, will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris with Father Alan Wielinski celebrating the mass. Burial will be at Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Shirley Ann Bellmore was born on February 17, 1942, in Breckenridge, Minnesota to Ira and Catherine (Underberg) Bellmore. She was raised in rural Kent, Minnesota, where she received her education until the 6th grade at a country school and then went on to school in Abercrombie, North Dakota, graduating with the class of 1960. In June of 1960, Shirley was united in marriage to Michael O’Keefe in Kent. They made their home in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and welcomed five children to their family: Tony, Barb, Becky, Tim, and Tammy. They remained in Wahpeton until 1979 when the family moved to Morris, Minnesota. When all the kids were in school, Shirley went to work as a Home Health Aide. She retired in August of 1996. Mike preceded Shirley in death in 2017, she remained in Morris until May of 2022 when she moved to Riverfront Manor in Pelican Rapids where she lived until her death.

Shirley was a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Morris and served on the funeral committee for eight years. Her greatest joy was her family. She would attend any and all events of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shirley always said ‘have suitcase, will travel’ and that she did, whenever possible to make memories with her family.

Shirley died peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at her home at Riverfront Manor in Pelican Rapids. She was 83 years old.

She is survived by her children: Barb (Curt) Gehrtz of Fargo, Becky (Chris) Vogel of Morris, and Tamara (Michael) Oliver of Melrose; daughter-in-law, Sandy (Tom) Leuthner of Battle Lake; grandchildren: Katie (Mitch) Hufford, Corey O’Keefe, Courtney (Danny) Grout, Kaitlin (Bennett) Strombeck, Zachary Oliver, Madison (Dillion Kaste) O’Keefe, Breydin O’Keefe, Nicholas Oliver, Chandler (Harper Toward) Vogel, Reed Leuthner, Brady Leuthner; great-grandchildren: Easton Hufford, Finn Grout, Carson Hufford, Hallie Grout, Izabel Oliver, and Myla O’Keefe; sister, Kay (Steve) Klein of Breckenridge; brother, Ted Bellmore of Morris; and sister-in-law Eva O’Keefe of California.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael; two sons: Tony and Tim; parents: Ira and Catherine Bellmore; parents-in-law: Bill and Catherine O’Keefe; brother, Robert Bellmore; and sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Donna Boll, Shirley Scheiterlein, Cathy Rydell, Irene Hanson, and Patrick O’Keefe.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of the arrangements for Shirley.