Shirley Foster Groenhout, 84, of Flagstaff, Arizona, passed away peacefully April 3, 2024, at home with her family.

Shirley (affectionately known as Sis, Shirl G., Squirrel, Shirl T. Girl, Puck, and countless other nicknames) was born in January 1940 in Fairfield, Montana to William and Beatrice Foster. Growing up on a farm in Cut Bank as the sixth of seven children, Shirley was no stranger to hard work yet found time to swoon over Elvis and excel at the jitterbug at school dances. She graduated high school in 1958 and one year later eloped to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, with a tall fly boy named Ed Groenhout, who was stationed at the nearby Air Force Base.  They welcomed their first child, Lori Jo, in 1960 and Edward Guy in 1962.

In 1964, the Groenhouts moved to Missoula so that Ed could attend the University of Montana. Their third child, Brenda Ann, was born that year. To help support their young family, Shirley worked as a bank teller, provided childcare, and cleaned medical offices in the evenings.

Shirley and Ed made the move to Bozeman and Montana State University in 1971. While Ed went to work at MSU, Shirley became assistant to the owner of Wytana Livestock, a position she would hold for nearly twenty years. While in Bozeman, the Groenhouts were active in the community, particularly the university, art, and social scenes.  Shirley loved to decorate for and host holiday, themed, and costume parties -- her elegance, easy laugh, and effervescence truly making her the "hostess with the mostest."  Ed 's involvement in the Karl Mark's Cardinals, an over-30 slow-pitch softball team, provided the Groenhouts with some of the richest and most enduring friendships of their lives.  Together these families celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, traveled to tournaments, camped, floated rivers, and partied 'til the cows came home.

In 1988, Shirley and Ed left Montana for Flagstaff, Arizona, where Ed would become an administrator at Northern Arizona University. Shirley took on the role of assistant to the director of the Museum of Northern Arizona and would become instrumental in the growth of the institution.  While at MNA, she participated in the development of the Branigar/Chase Discovery Center and the evolution of the museum and the Colton House as premier special events venues.

In 2006, after surviving breast as well as colon cancer, Shirley hung up her professional hats and turned her attention to simpler things like learning to play tennis (at 66!), flower gardening, travel, nurturing friendships, and spending time with her grandchildren. She and Ed made "the trip of a lifetime" to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in Europe in 2009.

Shirley was an incredibly silly yet sophisticated spirit, delighting her family and friends with her holiday celebrations, costumes, laughter, and spontaneity. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years and her three brothers.  She is survived by her sisters, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She blessed us all with her light and her love and we remain grateful to have had her in our lives.   A celebration of her life will take place when the weather is warmer.