Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 272100
Title: Sonja F. Shannon
Date: 6/8/1941-3/5/2026
Inscription/Marks: 6/8/1941
Summary: Sonja Skadberg Shannon, 84, of Hermosa, SD, passed away at Edgewood of Mandan on March 5, 2026. A celebration of Sonja’s life was held March 20, 2026, at Evans Funeral Home in Carrington, ND. Burial was at the Carrington Cemetery. Sonja was born June 8, 1941, in New Rockford, ND, to John and Mamie Skadberg, the youngest of seven children. She attended country school before she and her sister (and closest friend) Judy moved to Carrington to complete their high school education. Sonja graduated from Carrington High School in 1959. In 1962 she earned her degree in elementary education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Immediately after graduation, she accepted her first position, teaching 3rd grade in Barnesville, MN. In 1962, Sonja married Arlo Neumiller of Sykeston, ND. Shortly after marrying, they moved to Milwaukee, WI, where Arlo attended Marquette University. While Arlo was attending dental school, Sonja helped support the family teaching at a local elementary school in a low income neighborhood. During these four years they welcomed their first child, Joel. In 1969, the family settled in Cooperstown. Sonja gave up teaching to help her husband establish his dental practice. In 1970, all except Joel welcomed their daughter, Tanya. In 1990, Sonja returned to school, earning her master's degree in school psychology from Moorhead State University. In 1992, Sonja and Arlo divorced. In the summer of 1994, Sonja married Robert Shannon. The couple moved to Watertown, SD, where Sonja accepted her first position as a school psychologist. They later moved to Rapid City where Sonja continued her work. She was passionate about helping students, teachers, and parents diagnose learning problems in order to improve their educational experience. With a new marriage came a new family, that Sonja welcomed with her customary warmth and love. In 2007 the Shannons built a home in the Black Hills outside Hermosa, SD, where Sonja enjoyed the outdoors and entertained many guests. In 2014, Sonja lost her husband Robert. She spent the next decade enjoying her beautiful home in the hills in the company of her new dog, Molly, which she doted on like a third child. Sonja loved her work. In her spare time, she was an avid reader and skilled gardener. Her front garden thrived under her careful attention. Sonja also enjoyed golf, jam sessions, and gathering with friends and coworkers. Although she did not use makeup, she was always well dressed. More than one person commented on her classy appearance. She was fiercely proud of her Norwegian heritage and Skadberg name. Even with her advanced dementia, she lovingly recalled how her sister Judy looked after her in the years after the death of their father. Sonja is survived by one sister, Judy Semmens of Mayville, ND; one sister-in-law, Jeanette Skadberg of Arizona; her son, Joel (Penny) of Bismarck, ND, and her daughter, Tanya (Ward Lunde) of Kindred, ND; five grandchildren, Alex, Ilsa, Elena, Sydney, Colin; two great-grandchildren, Runa and Gwyn; two stepchildren, Roberta Bolton (John) of Buena Vista, CO and Michael Shannon (Theresa) of Gillette, WY; 14 step-grandchildren, 20 step-great-grandchildren, and 12 step-great-great-grandchildren. Sonja was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Stanley (Elsie) Skadberg, Jerry (Doris) Skadberg, Arlys (Ralph) Harmon, Marvin (Marvel) Skadberg, Kermit Skadberg, James (Patti) Skadberg; her brother-in-law, Ron Semmens; and a stepson, Patrick Shannon.
Red ID: FND_I_79593 Image ID: 555950 Image Notes: FND001 272100

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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