Susan Shannon

Susan Rae (Shoemaker) Shannon, age 79, of Yankton, South Dakota, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton, with Reverend Mike Newago officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Susan Shoemaker, born on November 4, 1946, in Yankton, South Dakota, was the first of three children to Robert and Virginia (Renner) Shoemaker. Growing up in Yankton, Susan’s family owned Inter City Bus Lines. Her father converted a retired bus into a personal RV, and together they traveled across the country creating lifelong memories. The adventures brought both joy and exasperation, as the Shoemaker children were often expected to give eager campground visitors early-morning tours of the bus.

A self-proclaimed “Daddy’s girl,” Susan was spirited, determined, and independent from a young age. Her creativity was demonstrated while her parents were away one evening, she cleverly moved her brother Bill’s furniture into the family sunroom. This ingenious move created separate rooms for her and her baby sister, Barbara, keeping Barbie away from Susan’s makeup and beloved princess phone.

Susan, adored her friends and classmates from the legendary Yankton High School Class of 1964. She was the YHS Cheerleading Captain, nominated for Homecoming Royalty and voted “Most Athletic” by her peers. She attended Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, before earning her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She was involved in theater and an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

Following graduation, Susan taught Kindergarten in Yankton; Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Jacksonville, North Carolina, at a Marine Corps base school near Camp Lejeune. She was proud of her experience there, where she and her classroom helped test educational content for the pilot season of Sesame Street.

In the early 1970s, Susan returned to Yankton and opened The Pantry, a gourmet kitchen, bath and home decor store. She cherished her time at the store with her sister, Barbara and her business partners who were dear friends, Sandra Fisk and Betty Cox.

Susan married the love of her life, William “Bill” Shannon, on December 30, 1978, building a warm, devoted marriage that lasted more than 47 years. After relocating to Minneapolis in 1979, Susan built a successful fashion career as a consultant for Carlisle Clothing and as a Regional Director for Doncaster Clothing. She had a true gift helping women feel beautifully confident, and her work allowed her to travel extensively, including cherished trips to New York City with Bill. Susan retired in 2008 and returned home to Yankton in 2018.

Susan was a 55-year member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) SD Chapter K, member of Junior League of Minneapolis, and Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Art Institute, Susan had an exceptional eye for beauty, especially flowers. Orchestrating flower arrangements and planting elaborate flower pots brought Susan immense joy. She even enjoyed matching her patio flowers to her children’s wedding colors and her grandchildren’s genders when they were born.

As an exceptional hostess, she had a gift for making everyone feel welcome and celebrated. Susan was known for her over-the-top gatherings, including her nightly cocktail hour with Bill, often spent playing Rummikub and sipping her signature vodka martini with 3 Spanish Queen olives, lemon twist, and ice to the top every night at 5pm.

Susan cherished her role as a mother, celebrating each child for their unique gifts and personalities while always making them feel heard, important, and deeply loved. Family trips to the cabin or Houston to spend time with her sister Barbara became treasured lifelong memories.

One of her greatest joys was being “Nana SuSu” to her seven grandchildren. She was famous for sending entire sleeves of Oreos home with each grandchild after visits. She also held the beloved title of Auntie SuSu. She adored her family and friends beyond measure and treated her pets like royalty, often topping their treats with butter. Friends joked they hope to come back as one of Susan’s dogs.

Susan believed people remember how you make them feel more than what you say, and she made everyone feel FABULOUS. Her favorite phrase, “Best Day Ever!”, perfectly captured her spirit and joy.

Susan is survived by her husband William Shannon of Yankton; three children: Priscilla Shannon (Ryan Smith) of Stillwater, MN, Libby (Greg) Hintgen of Sioux Falls, SD; and Robert (Misty) Shannon of Houston, TX; seven grandchildren: Amelia, Alex, and Ava Smith; Clara and Gabrielle “Coco” Hintgen; and Milo and Summer Shannon; her loving siblings, Bill (Kate) Shoemaker of Yankton and Barbara Shoemaker of Houston; niece and nephew, Sara and Nick Shoemaker; special honorary family, Betty and Jim Cox; special honorary nephews, Chuck and Garrett Cox; and many dear friends.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents; twin brothers in infancy; and niece, Brianne Cox.

Memorials may be directed to Shriners Hospitals for Children and Christ Episcopal Church in Yankton.