Shellby Marie Trettel

Shellby Marie Trettel carried a warm, colorful spirit into every room she entered. Born November 26, 2001, in Sonora, California, she was raised in Cloquet, Minnesota, where family and community shaped her generous nature. Those who knew Shellby remember her quick humor, creative spark, and steady kindness—qualities she shared with family, friends, and coworkers alike.

From a young age Shellby found joy in music, theater and band while attending Cloquet Public Schools. She graduated from Cloquet High School in 2020 and kept exploring life’s possibilities with curiosity and courage. A creative and thoughtful young woman, she enjoyed camping and fishing with her father, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, traveling, and following interests in the paranormal. Shellby also cared deeply for animals, especially her pet lizard, Nova.

Shellby began working at the Super 8 hotel as a teenager and later served as a front desk representative, where coworkers became extended family. She also worked at local restaurants and at the FDL Head Start in a maintenance role, continuing a family tradition of service. Her employers and colleagues remember her as someone who quietly made a difference—reliable, friendly, and proud of the small ways she helped others.

She is survived by her father, Timothy Trettel (Tara Cohen), her birth mother Kristina Scott (Jeffery Scott), a bonus mother Bethany Thompson, several siblings and bonus siblings, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and many friends who loved her bright, tender heart. Shellby was preceded in death by her great-grandparents.

The family invited those who came to celebrate Shellby’s life to wear flannel, band T‑shirts, or hooded sweatshirts—an expression of the comfortable, genuine style she favored. A service to honor her memory was held January 17, 2024, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet, followed by a gathering at the River Inn in Scanlon.

Shellby’s legacy is one of warmth and authenticity: a young woman who loved people and the small joys of everyday life. She is remembered for her generosity, her laughter, and the light she brought to those around her. Rest in peace, Shellby—your kindness and colorful spirit live on in the hearts of those who knew you.