Leo Thompson of Little Falls, Minnesota opened Thompson Mortuary in 1930, after working in the field for 19 years. Thompson Mortuary was located downtown in what today is known as the Falls Floral Building. The mortuary had a reception hall, chapel, display room, preparation room and a fireproof store room. The exterior of the building was pressed brick with a colonial front and bronze lighting fixtures. The building was known as one of the finest mortuaries in the state. In 1948, Leo Thompson moved the mortuary to its present location, to obtain a residence and more spacious facility.

In 1950 Dale Shelley graduated from Worshom College of Mortuary Science obtaining his Minnesota Mortician’s License. Dale married JoAnn who attended the University of Minnesota receiving her Funeral Director’s License in 1957. The couple had three children and moved to Little Falls from Minneapolis, MN. In June of 1958 Dale and JoAnn purchased the funeral home and residence of Mr. Leo Thompson. Later that fall, they also purchased Swanville Funeral Home from Mr. Clifford Gibson. In 1967 Dale and JoAnn expanded the business once again by purchasing the Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz from Mr. Leo Virnig. In time the Little Falls Chapel would undergo a major expansion starting in 1977. Added were a new chapel, preparation room, garage and a handicap-accessible entryway. With all the qualities the Shelley’s had to offer this would be the start to providing excellent service to their areas families.

In 1988 Steve Shelley, Dale and JoAnn’s son, succeeded them as the owner. Steve is a graduate of Little Falls Community High School and attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1980 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He married Gwyn, also a graduate of Little Falls Community High School, who works along side her husband in the funeral business. Her major role is to provide the families they serve with grief support and aftercare. They have recently celebrated 35 years together and have two daughters and a grandson. Since their time of ownership, several more changes were made to the firm . A major renovation to the Pierz building in 1998 included a new interior and exterior. A year later Shelley Funeral Chapels expanded to Onamia, MN when it purchased the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home from Mr. Wes Seimers. Finally the Little Falls Chapel received its second renovation in 2003 adding a new arrangement room and new interior décor.