Marijo Shide

Marijo Loomis Shide, age 87, of Grand Forks, ND, passed away Monday, May 22, 2017 at Fort Worth, Texas. She was a Woman of Faith, who loved her Family, Friends, The Flag and the United States of America.

Marijo was born June 30, 1929 in Grand Forks, ND, the daughter of Fred and Claudine Loomis. Marijo was fortunate in being raised by a mom and dad who were able to show her a way of life as well as tell about it. She was raised with the bible verse 'For everyone unto whom much is given, much shall be expected.’ Her parents also told her ‘You are an 11th generation American. You have a big debt to pay to all the people that came before you to prepare a place for you to live in a country with liberty and freedom.’

A lifelong resident of North Dakota, Marijo graduated from Grand Forks Central, attended UND and was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and later married Donald Shide on October 23, 1954. She and Donald lived and farmed in Larimore, ND and were parents to four children.

Marijo cherished and valued her role as spouse and mother, and always placed family first. She also found time for community service. She was a Member of the Larimore Tuesday Study Club and served as the President of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) of North Dakota in 1968-1970. She served as National GFWC Home Life Department Chairman in 1970-1972, where she worked with ND Senator Quentin Burdick to establish National Family Week. Marijo received the Sioux Award in 1980, the highest award presented by the UND Alumni Association. She was the youngest woman to be elected as the International President of the GFWC in 1980-1982, the oldest and largest women volunteer organization in the world at that time with 10 million members in 46 countries. She also had a day designated in her name, proclaimed by her home community of Larimore, North Dakota.

She was a member and president of the ND State Board of Higher Education in 1984-1991. In 2000 she was named the Outstanding Woman of North Dakota by the ND Women of Today. She co-chaired the GFWC Sacagawea Statue Committee in 2000-2003 for placement in National Statuary Hall, US Capitol. In 2006, she was selected for the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader group, and received the National Service Award Medal of the US Air Force in 2009, the highest award the Air Force can give a civilian volunteer. In 2014, she had two benches dedicated in her name at the International Peace Gardens, and in 2017 she received the Henry Havig Award for Community Service, the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber’s most prestigious award.

Surviving members of Marijo’s family include children: Charles “Chuck” Shide (Julie Clairmont) and their children Monique, Courtney, and Austin of Boca Raton, FL; David Shide and Lori Frank and their children Jasper and Jeremy of Kensington, MD ; Daniel “Dan” Shide (Becky Araiza) and their children Eric, Matthew, and Mark of Santa Paula, CA; and Kathleen “Katie” Shide (Brendan Hayes) and their children Donovan, Connor, and Kendrick of Ft. Worth, TX; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Louise Wellman, brother John Loomisand one grandchild, Brittany Shide.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: Memorials may be designated to St. Stephen’s Catholic Church or the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2017 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Larimore, ND.

VISITATION: Friday, June 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary held in the Bakke Funeral Home of Larimore Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral mass in the church on Saturday.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore, ND.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Thursday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m. at Parkwood Place in Grand Forks.