Kristine E. "Krissy" Shotley

Kristine Elizabeth Shotley, age 63 of Cloquet, Minnesota, left this Earth much too young on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, after a brief illness at Essentia Health/St. Mary's Medical Center, in Duluth, Minnesota. This comes as a complete shock to her family, friends, and everyone around her. But she left us all with innumerable memories of her that we will forever treasure. Kristine was born on May 26, 1962, to Naomi (Shotley) Barnard and Jerry Charette in Cloquet. She was the first-born grandchild in the LaPrairie/Shotley family of five children and was especially doted on by her gramma, Rose. Kris had a special relationship with her maternal grandparents from the time she was born, and we know that they are among the first spirits she saw waiting for her upon her entrance into the Spiritual Realm of existence. Kris's father passed away many years ago, but he will be there taking care of her as well. One of her greatest accomplishments was being mom to her son Steve. Kris chronicled Steve's every move in photo albums. He inherited Kris's writing and speaking skills through many shared games of Scrabble and debating on who was the utmost winner.

Krissy, as her family liked to call her, lived in the Twin Cities and Denver and attended Metro State College in Minneapolis. Kristine was a member of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. She was a prolific writer and wrote a monthly column as "Ricey Wild" for The Circle newspaper in Minneapolis. In her column, Kris shared her thoughts and feelings regarding personal issues as well as those affecting Indigenous People on a national basis. Kris was an activist for journalism, a member of the American Journalists Association, and was featured on News From Indian Country podcast. She was very interested in English History; during a trip to England in March of 2000, she took it upon herself to act as a tour guide for her son, Steve and mom, Naomi. Together they toured historical places such as Tower of London, Hampton Court, Bath, as well as the world-famous British Museum. If her mom had been the tour guide, they would have ended up in some far-off locale. Krissy was known to make friends with anyone from all walks of life. One of her favorite meetings was with patrons at an Irish pub near her B&B. It had been their first encounter with an Ojibwe woman; who could claim her indigenous ancestry written history from Three Rivers in Quebec in the 1500's to the shores of Lake Superior. Which was her favorite place to be with nature.

Kristine is survived by her only son, Steve Shotley of Duluth, who was named after her grandpa Eugene, but everyone called him Steve; mother, Naomi Shotley Barnard of Shakopee, Minnesota; granddaughter, Daenerys Shotley of Shakopee, Minnesota; sister, Stefanie Lyons of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Rebecca Goehbal of St. Cloud, Minnesota; brother, Michael Wynd of Sisseton, South Dakota; her favorite "Unk", Lavern Shotley; aunts, Corrine Hutman of Indiana and Suzanne Lauritsen; cousins, Adam Lauritsen and Jerone Gahbow; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerome Charette; grandparents, Rose and Eugene Shotley; and uncle, Gene Shotley.

Service for Kristine will be held Monday, October 13, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church (280 Reservation Road) in Cloquet with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be held at New Holy Family Cemetery followed with a luncheon at the church. To leave an online condolence, visit www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.