Vonnie Shannon

Vera Yvonne Shannon (Vonnie), age 78, of Terry passed away September 5, 2019 at Holy Rosary Health Center in Miles City after a brief fight with cancer.

Vonnie was born February 4, 1941 to Alvin and Josephine Steadman in Miles City, Montana. She grew up in Sonnette and attended grade school at Mitchell school by horseback, riding two and a half miles one way each school day. She graduated high school from Powder River County High School in Broadus. After high school Vonnie attended Eastern Montana College earning a teaching degree. She taught in multiple country schools in Powder River County, including the school of her youth, Mitchell School. Here she earned the status of being the last teacher of the school, teaching only two students that year.

On June 2, 1962 Vera married Norman Shannon. They spent most of their married life in Terry, Montana moving there in 1969. Together they raised two sons, Randy and Scott. Vonnie was a teacher but had a variety of other jobs throughout her life. These jobs included; Silage truck driver, MDU meter reader and office worker, Terry Tribune worker, Courthouse worker serving as a part time secretary and took minutes for the county commissioners.

Vonnie loved the outdoors and would have rather been outside than indoors during any weather. In her youth she enjoyed competing in rodeos, including barrel racing and Rodeo Queen contests, winning the title as Rodeo Queen at least once. Vonnie enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and embroidering. She was known for making shirts for her family. Above all else Vonnie spent her life treasuring her children and grandchildren and traveling to the four corners of Montana to their sporting events. Norman and Vonnie even kept rooting for the Terry Terriers at football and basketball games even after their grandchildren had moved on. They were was also a staunch followers of 4-H.

Vonnie is preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, her parents, three brother-in-laws, and two sister-in-laws.

Surviving Vonnie are her sons, Randy (Aletta), Broadus, MT and Scott (Kristy), Terry, MT.; Grandchildren, Tyrel Shannon, Tell Shannon, Randee Shannon, and Travis Shannon; A special great niece also considered a granddaughter, Brandy Herald; one brother-in-law, Robert Shannon; three sister-in-laws, Kim Shannon, Betty Shannon, and Virginia Samuelson.

If desired memorials may be made to the Shriner's Hospital and St. Jude's Children Hospital.

Visitation will take place on Friday, December 13th, from 1-6 PM at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Terry. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 14th at the same location. Internment will follow on Saturday, December 14th at Prairie County Cemetery.