Shirley Poitra, 69, Garrison, died on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Garrison Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 am at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Garrison. A rosary will be said on Friday beginning at 7:00 pm at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison. Burial will take place in the spring at St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery in Garrison.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 7 at Thompson Funeral Home in Garrison.

Shirley was born October 20, 1949 in Riverdale, ND to Anton and Viola (Schmitcke) Fix in Garrison. She was raised and educated in Garrison, graduating from Garrison High School in 1969. She then went on to business college seeking a degree in accounting. She found however, that sitting in an office would not be for her. Being the social butterfly that she was, she felt she needed to be around people.

Shirley was always a hard worker and was in the service industry her whole life. She worked through school at Elsie's Café, the Stone Inn, and Super Valu before beginning her 45-year career as a bartender. She was extremely dedicated to her work which included many different people and bars. She worked for Casper Keller, John and Doris Ellis, Bud Parker, Harold Chirseverson, Bud Parker again, and Marv Zablotney. In 1995, Shirley went to work for Gordy Nahan, Larry Ellis, and finally Sharon Jungling before retiring due to health complications in 2017.

Shirley never had a lot of time off, but when she did, she enjoyed playing Whist, darts and pool. She also liked to fish and travel to Bismarck to see her daughter and grandson and to Minot to see her brother Robert and his wife, Sharon. She had a true passion for swans and has a tremendous collection that is over 1000 pieces. She also collected Coors Light bottles in all different shapes and sizes.

Shirley will be greatly missed by countless patrons and friends. She will be fondly remembered for her friendship and service and we can all already hear her in heaven telling everyone to "Haaaave a good one!".

Shirley is survived by her daughters, Dionne Poitra, Bismarck, Stacey (Kevin) Helgeson, Garrison; grandsons, Kevin Michael (Tamera) Helgeson and Jordan Poitra; great grandson, David Schafnitz; great granddaughter, Izabela Helgeson, brother, Robert (Sharon) Fix, Minot, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Virginia Poitra, Larry Fix, Goldie Longie, and two infant siblings.