Obituary: Shirley I. Hart-Mingus

Shirley I. Hart-Mingus, 87, of Wright passed away April 27, 2023, at Suncoast Hospice in St. Petersburg, Florida.

She was born Aug. 26, 1935. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence Hart and Hazel (Graff) Hart; brothers, Neil Hart and Lyle Hart; and grandson Randy (Bear) Leithe.

Survivors include her daughters, Crystal Mingus of Minneapolis, Valerie (Michael) Zumbusch of Buffalo, Jacqueline (Jim) Wolaver of St. Petersburg, Gale (Paul) Geske of Brooklyn Park, and Luci Mingus of Superior, Wisconsin; and 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Shirley graduated from high school at the top of her class in Floodwood. She became a wife and mother, and later worked as a secretary in Minneapolis at the Martin Williams advertising agency, and then the Campbell Mithun advertising agency, where she began her career in media buying. She soon accepted a job as a media buyer for General Mills in Golden Valley. After many years Shirley was discovered by a headhunter and was invited to Nashville, Tennessee for another media buying position. In a few short years, Shirley started her own media buying company, Mingus Media. Channellock was one of her largest clients, and she was very proud of that. Shirley was successful in her business for many years, earning exotic trips to various countries, often accompanied by one of her daughters or grandchildren. She retired and returned to the Minneapolis area to be closer to many of her children and grandchildren. In the spring of 2021, she moved to St. Petersburg and lived with one of her daughters until her death in April. Shirley was very active in the Missouri Synod Lutheran church and the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and went on many trips with the Missouri Synod, often taking grandchildren along with her. Some very fond memories of those trips remain with her grandchildren.

Shirley was a big animal lover, always stopping to talk to any animal she came across, and one time brought home a Golden Retriever she met at a Tom Thumb store. Ralph was a great dog. She was an avid reader and loved to play cards with her relatives and many friends. She was quick to laughter and possessed a cute and distinct laugh. Shirley and her laugh will be so very missed.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service Friday, July 21 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1417 Second St. in Wright. Shirley will be interred later that day at Lakeview Cemetery, 1448 Fifth St. in Wright. After the graveside service, mourners are invited to return to the church for refreshments and memories. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Humane Society of Minnesota.

Pine Knot News July 14, 2023