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Funeral services will take place on Friday, January 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM (Central).

St. John's Catholic Church
Ft. Pierre, South Dakota

Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
6-7 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 24, at St. John's Catholic Church in Ft. Pierre, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.



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In memory of

Susan Bennett

of Pierre, South Dakota, died on Friday, January 18, 2019 at her home in Pierre at the age of 57

Susan Mary Schoenfelder was born January 28th, 1961, in Huron, South Dakota. She was adopted on February 17th, 1961, by Clem and Eleanor “Mike” (Helmberger) Schoenfelder, and joined an older brother, Tom. At the age of four she moved with her family from Mitchell to Gregory where her parents bought a Chevrolet Dealership. Susan worked for her parents at the dealership doing bookkeeping with her mother from junior high through high school.

After graduating high school in 1979, Susan attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where she received a Music Education degree and later a Masters Degree in Voice. In 1986, she accepted a one year vocal music position in Philip. The music teacher returned after her maternity leave and Susan moved to Highmore where she taught vocal music for five years. She returned to Philip on numerous occasions to visit friends and met the love of her life, Merlin Bennett. They started dating and were married on June 20, 1992, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Susan taught vocal music in Kadoka the following year. They moved to Spearfish the following year, where Merlin returned to college. Shortly after moving to Spearfish, their daughter Megan was born. Two years later, they moved to Vermillion where Merlin finished his undergraduate classes, and their son Dylan was born right after the move.

From Vermillion the family moved to Woodridge, Illinois where Merlin started graduate classes in Chiropractic and Susan started to work at Jefferson Junior High in the Special Education Department as a tutor. In 1999, they moved to Pierre and Susan started to work at Jefferson Elementary in the Prolonged Assistance classroom. Over the years, she also worked with early childhood and resource students. She was later asked to be a one-on-one tutor for a young student with cerebral palsy. She worked with this student until she retired.

Susan also worked at Walmart for 17 years after moving to Pierre. She was a sales associate in fabrics, toys, and lawn and garden. She really loved the garden area where she could be outside during the summer and put out the holiday items during the other seasons.

On October 23, 2006, Susan met her birth mother, Barbara Ann (Sisk) Bouren, from Ree Heights, South Dakota. They laughed and cried over the stories they told each other. Susan found out she had three younger sisters with her mother and that had Susan so excited because she always wanted a sister. Susan never got to meet her father (Merlin Gibson) originally from Highmore, but she had met her siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and Grandma Lucille.

After retiring in 2018, due to her illness, Susan enjoyed watching her two beautiful granddaughters, Brooklyn and Destiny, after they got out of daycare. Susan enjoyed working with children, attending all sporting events, especially those of her children, being outside in the sun, watching her grandchildren grow and being with family and friends.

Survivors include her husband Merlin; daughter Megan Bennett (Ed) Rattling Leaf of Pierre; son Dylan Bennett (special friend Daae Ahn) of Aberdeen; granddaughters Brooklyn, Destiny, and Carlie; step-grandchildren Audry and E.J. Rattling Leaf; sisters Sandi (Robert) Hall of Ree Heights, Vicki (Rick) Oligmueller of Miller, Nicolle (Chris) Stallkamp of Selby; brothers Tom Schoenfelder of Gregory, and Matt and Eric Gibson of Kansas City; In-laws Glen (Rose) Bennett and Toni Rhodes of Philip; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents Clem and Eleanor “Mike” Schoenfelder; Merlin Gibson and Barbara (Eldon) Bouren; a sister Cheryl Gibson; grandparents Barney and Leota Schoenfelder, Joseph and Norma Helmberger, Brian and Lucille Gibson, Carl and Josephine Sisk; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be held 6-7 p.m. CST on Thursday, January 24, at St. John's Catholic Church in Ft. Pierre, with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. CST on Friday, January 25, at St. John's Catholic Church in Ft. Pierre, with Father Ron Garry as celebrant.

Graveside services will follow the luncheon at 1:00 p.m. MST on Friday, at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

A reception will follow the graveside services at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Friday, January 25, 2019 - 10:00 a.m. CST
St. John’s Catholic Church
Ft. Pierre, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Ron Garry

PALLBEARERS
Nick Hostert - Gary Hostert
Brigham Bennett - Steve Cassidy
Brian Helmberger - Mark Helmberger

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Friends at Pierre School District and Walmart Families

INTERMENT
Friday, January 25, 2019 - 1:00 p.m. MST
Masonic Cemetery, Philip, South Dakota

  • I had the honor and privilege to get to know Susan from the Courthouse! She touched my heart! ~ Mary Scott Pierre (1/24/2019)
  • Merlin & family, I am so sorry for your loss. ~ Janet Theye Philip, SD (1/24/2019)
  • Merlin and family so sorry to hear about your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Sandy ShortBull Interior (1/24/2019)
  • Merlin and family
    We are sorry to hear of your loss. Her spirit shined through that beautiful smile. Praying peace will find you.
    Mike and Lori Seager     ~ Lori Seager Philip (1/23/2019)
  • Our deepest sympathies to all the family. ~ Nancy Pekron Ehrhardt Brandon SD (1/23/2019)
  • My sincere sympathy to the family of Sue. Known her since way back when she was growing up in Gregory. Always a kind lady and had a smile for all she greeted. God give you peace and comfort. ~ Gayle Bartling Pierre, SD (1/22/2019)
  • Sorry to hear about sue she was a very loving mother wife and sister,she will be missed. ~ Brenda Blackburn Canton ohio (1/22/2019)
  • I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Susan. I met her when I worked at Riggs High School in Pierre. She had such a calm, nurturing soul and loved her family greatly. I recently saw her while shopping in Walmart, and she talked lovingly of her grandchildren. May God wrap his loving arms around you all and lift you up. ~ Cherie Hill Onida (1/22/2019)
  • condolences to you Merlin and family sending prayers ~ Reuben Vollmer Midland (1/22/2019)
  • Sorry for your loss thoughts and prayers are with you. ~ Bill Eckert Oakton SD (1/21/2019)
  • Merlin, prayers to you and your families. Steven always kept me posted and I always thought dearly of all of you. Love Kiya ~ Kiya Kelly Quinn (1/21/2019)
  • Merlin, Megan and Dylan, I am so sorry to hear about Sue. I was in Pierre shortly before Christmas and thought of her. I have such special memories of her time in Philip, we had some really great times. Please know you guys are in my prayers. ~ Kathy Harris Hendricks, MN (1/21/2019)
  • Merlin and family: I am so sorry to hear of Susan's passing! Losing a loved one is so hard to understand and cope with. She fought the good fight and she did all she could on this earth, and now it's her turn for the next journey where there is no suffering, no sorrow, no pain. I truly hope you can find comfort, somehow, in knowing this and knowing that her memory will live on in your thoughts and in your heart. You are all in our thoughts and prayers! ~ Keith Johnson Worthington, Minnesota (1/21/2019)
  • Merlin, Megan and Dylan, I am sorry to hear of your loss. Susan was a very special person. We had the honor to really get to know Susan all the years she worked with Michael one on one as his tutor/aid. She was a very loving, kind and caring person. Michael adored her and was excited to see her everyday. She will be greatly missed by all. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless ~ Glen and Darlis Perry Pierre (1/20/2019)
  • Sad new, rest in peace Susan Bennett. My deepest sympathies to your family! The dead of a mother will always leave an emptiness but remember the love of a Mother doesn't not cease or diminish because of a temporally separation. ~ Joseph Daeges Omaha Nebraska (1/19/2019)
  • Susan was a very special lady and Im honored to have worked with her at GMMS ~ Rebecca Preboski Pierre (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and family Susan was a beautiful and kind soul, she will not be forgotten and oh how beautiful the heavenly choir must sound now. ~ Mark Helmberger Omaha Ne (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and family, I am so sorry to hear of Susan's passing, you are in my thoughts and prayers. ~ Sloan Joens (Hart) BlackHawk (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and Family,
    My Deepest Sympathy. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Susan was always so nice and had a beautiful smile. May the Lord Be With You Now and Always.     ~ Fawna (Geigle) Goff Sturgis, SD (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and family, I am so very sorry to hear of Susan's passing. Thoughts and prayers to you all. ~ William Brown Kadoka, SD (1/19/2019)
  • I absolutely loved working with Susan at Jefferson. She was such a positive person and loved the kids she worked with. I will miss her infectious laugh and smile! She will be greatly missed. Thinking and praying for you all. ~ Jackie Richey Pierre, SD (1/19/2019)
  • We are so sorry to hear about Susan, our deepest sympathy thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, (Hugs) and God's blessings ~ Teresa Hatheway Murdo SD (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and family. Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers to all of you. ~ Roger and Susan Hoyme Sioux Falls, SD (1/19/2019)
  • We are so sorry to hear of Susans passing. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. May God surround you with great memories, hugs, and love. ~ Kenny and Nancy Neville Philip (1/19/2019)
  • So sorry about Susan. I met her when she taught music in Highmore. She was such a great gal. Beautiful smile. So sweet. She will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. My thoughts and prayers are with you. ~ Babby Blair Highmore (1/19/2019)
  • Thoughts and prayers. ~ Amanda Feist Pierre, SD (1/19/2019)
  • Merlin and family so sorry for your loss. Prayers for all of you ~ Brad Scott Pierre SD (1/19/2019)
  • My condolences and prayers....I'm gonna miss her! ~ Torry Rattling Leaf Pierre SD (1/18/2019)
  • Merlin and family - I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. May the Lord surround you with peace and comfort through the difficult days ahead. You will all be in my prayers. ~ Lynn Seifert Rapid City (1/18/2019)
  • Merlin & Family, Our thoughts and prayers to you and your family. God Bless. ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler Sturgis, S.D. (1/18/2019)