Anita Marie Shirk, age 76, of Rolette, ND, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025 at Trinity Hospital, Minot, ND.

Anita Marie Shirk was born on April 5, 1948 in Belcourt, ND to Joseph and Marie (LaFromboise) Hamley.  She was raised in Rolla, ND and completed her education at Rolla High School, graduating in 1966.  Anita furthered her education at Minot Business School, obtaining a secretarial degree in 1967, then earned a Bachelor of Social Work from University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1976, and went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

When she took a job working for Senior Meals at the Rolette County Housing Authority office, she met the love of her life, Tim Shirk. Anita was united in marriage to Tim on February 25, 1984 in St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Belcourt, ND. She was the proud mother of a daughter, Amy, and a son, Tim.

Anita expressed her Christian faith in many ways. She loved to help others. She was involved in the Catholic Church and Pro-Life activities. She volunteered at the church for several years. She also sponsored children through Compassion International and doted on her nieces and nephews along with her immediate family. She was a social worker for many years in Williston, Rugby, and finally in Belcourt, working for child welfare from 1990 to 2003. She came into contact with many people as an Avon representative, a job she held for many years, and enjoyed interacting with them.

Anita enjoyed literature and the arts, including the performing arts. When Anita was 15, she performed as part of a dance pageant for Rolla's Jewelorama celebration in 1963 and enjoyed dancing throughout her life.  She was gifted at writing poetry, publishing three poetry books, and enjoyed time on her computer doing various things, including paid surveys. She accumulated a library of the classics including all the works of Shakespeare, and enjoyed reading them tremendously. She also enjoyed watching operas and British television shows. Anita liked knitting caps, scarves, and potholders, embroidering, and playing piano. She was involved in her community as a member of the local painting club and book club in Rolette.

Since 1984, Anita and Tim lived in Rolette. She liked to sit outside in the sun and also enjoyed fruits and vegetables grown from their own garden, including raspberries, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, beets, peppers and tomatoes.

Anita was so loved by her family, her husband, her son, her siblings, and she will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Anita is survived by her husband, Tim Shirk of Rolette; son, Tim Belgarde of Minot; siblings, Ivan Hamley of Rolla, Shirley Hamley of Rolla, Mike Hamley of Devils Lake, David Hamley of Jamestown, Richard (Diane) Hamley of Otis Orchards, WA, Darwin Hamley of Rolla, and Jolene (Warren) Dalbec of Carrington; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Marie Hamley, a daughter, Amy Belgarde, brothers, Paul, Dennis and Reginald Hamley, nephew, Jason Hamley, in-law, Orland Shirk and brother-in-law, Warren Dalbec.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Noon at St. Joachim Catholic Church, Rolla, ND. Father Thai Arul presiding. A meal will follow the funeral mass in the church basement, all are welcome to attend in Anita's memory. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Rolette, ND.

Elick Funeral Home, Rolla, ND.