Shirley Joan Beim, eldest child of Walter & Helen (Wernecke) Klotz, was born March 4, 1936, on her family's farm northwest of Phillipsburg, Kansas. She passed away Thursday, August 9, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 76.

Shirley attended Morningstar Country School, achieving an eighth grade education in seven years by advancing from third to fourth grade within one school year's time. She was confirmed in faith at the First Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg, Kansas on June 19, 1949. Her high school education was completed at Phillipsburg with the graduating class of 1953, followed by one year at Kansas State University.

On July 22, 1956 Shirley married John Beim at the First Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg, Kansas. To this union four children were born: Timothy, Michael, Perry and Paula. After several years of raising a family she went on to nursing school through Colby Community College where she earned her LPN degree. She worked as an LPN at the Phillips County Hospital for several years. Shirley was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brother, Warren, and sister, Virginia.

Survivors include her husband, John, of the home; son, Timothy of Phillipsburg, KS; son, Michael & wife, Karen, of Keokuk, IA; son, Perry & wife, Pamela, of Wichita, KS; and daughter, Paula & husband, Cody Lyon, of Kensington, KS; grandchildren: Lindsay & husband, Brock Johnson of Phillipsburg; Hannah & husband, Josh Ramirez of Kensington; Amanda & husband, Sean Day of Kansas City, MO; Alex Beim & wife, Ketino of Lawrence; Rachel & husband, Luc Jones of Smith Center; Joseph Beim of Fullerton, CA; and Brandon and Brittany Beim of Wichita; great-grandchildren: Layton and Jhett Johnson, sons of Brock & Lindsay; Faber Jones, son of Luc & Rachel; and Alessandro Beim, son of Alex & Ketino.