Shirley E. Voyta

Shirley Easton Voyta was born on November 22, 1911, in Fayette, North Dakota. In 1918, Shirley moved to Montana with her parents and two sisters. She graduated high school from Fromberg High School and in 1935, earned her education degree from Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings). She married Joe Voyta in 1943; he predeceased her in 1979. Shirley taught for 35 years, with the last 22 at Eastern (Montana College) Elementary School. During her years at EMC, Shirley earned her Master’s Degree in Reading. As a Reading Specialist, she mentored numerous student teachers, many who visited her in later years. Shirley was a charter member of XI Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and a long-time member of the Yellowstone Valley Retired Educators. As one of the original members of the MSU Billings Foundation’s McMullen Golden Years Scholarship Selection Committee, Shirley served on the committee from 1986-2012. Still living in her own home and having a very sharp mind, Shirley took pride in being able to serve on the scholarship committee at 100 years old!

On January 5, 2016, Shirley passed away at age 104. She generously named the MSU Billings Foundation as one of the beneficiaries to an irrevocable trust. With her gift, the MSU Billings Foundation Board of Trustees established the Shirley E. Voyta Memorial Endowed Scholarshipso future MSU Billings education majors would benefit from Shirley’s passion for education and desire to help students. The first scholarship will be awarded in academic year 2017-2018.