Susan Schott

November 19, 1944 – February 15, 2024

Funeral services for Susan Schott of McLaughlin were held February 20, 2024, at the Family Worship Center in Mobridge. Burial was at the McLaughlin Methodist Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.

Susan “Sue” Lynn Schott, 79, went home to be with the Lord on February 15, 2024 surrounded by family. Sue’s positive attitude, cheery personality, and quiet determination affected all who knew her, even through the past 15 years of enduring brain tumors, complications, surgeries, and the effects.

Susan was born in Detroit, MI on November 19, 1944 to Lawerence and Norma (Elifritz) Paquette. Sue and her parents relocated to Lafayette, CA when her father got out of the army following WWII in 1948.

During high school she first worked at a soda shop serving ice cream and root beer floats. She then worked at a dress shop where enjoyed spending the money she earned buying clothes. She graduated from Acalanes High School in Lafayette, CA in 1962 and Chico State University in 1966. She was awarded the title of “Sweetheart Queen” at Chico State in 1964.

Susan met her husband, Wallace Schott, while attending Chico State University and they married on July 23, 1966. They moved to Kansas City where she graduated from the University of Missouri, earning a master’s degree in social work in 1968. They then returned to California, where Susan was a Clinical Social Worker for the State of California.

In 1972, they moved to McLaughlin to take over Wallace’s parents’, Jacob and Lydia Schott’s farm and ranch, where they continued to grow the operation. Susan’s mother, Norma Crosett, also moved to McLaughlin.

Carson was born in 1970, Kara in 1974 and Justin in 1980. Susan poured her heart, soul, and love into her children. She enjoyed watching all their school activities, sporting events, rodeos, and many years of swim meets.

Martin Wurtz came to work and lived with the family in 1986 and his younger brother Ernest in 1989.

Susan was employed by Northeastern Mental Health in Mobridge from 1972-74, and 198690. She worked at Standing Rock Community College in Fort Yates, ND for a tribal research program from 1978-80 and then at Indian Health Service in McLaughlin, from 1990 to 1997. She taught at Presentation College, Lakota Campus in Eagle Butte from 1998 to 2001 and served on the Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency board from the mid 1990’s to 2009.

As a woman of faith, Sue enjoyed her daily Bible study and prayer. She loved sewing, quilting, gardening, canning, and preparing homemade salsa. Her rhubarb went into her famous rhubarb/cream cheese frosting cookies.

In 1993 Susan and her sister Lane created Paquette Enterprises and started selling Dakota Prairie Ranch syrups, jams, and jellies. Sue enjoyed picking, washing, and processing the fruit in the “jam shop” at the farm place and prided herself in using harvested berries from the pastures. Sue and her best friend, Sonja Dumdei, enjoyed trips to the Black Hills to deliver orders to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wall Drug, and other shops.

Susan loved to travel and cherished her adventures with Sonja. Memorable trips to England, France, Italy, Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans were all rated as favorites. She also enjoyed family vacations to France, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Hawaii, and Mexico.

In 2017, Wallace and Susan purchased their vacation home in Rapid City where she enjoyed spending her time managing the finances, quilting, and entertaining family and friends, especially for holidays.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Norma and Lawerence.

Susan is survived by her husband of 57 years, Wallace Schott of McLaughlin; children Carson (Kelly) Schott of Reno, NV, Kara (Jon) McMachen of Spearfish, and Justin (Kristi) Schott of Loretto, MN; her “adopted sons” Martin (Diane) Wurtz and Ernest Wurtz of McLaughlin; grandchildren Tyler (Carissa) Richardson, Tara (Nikolai) Cox, Emma and Evan Schott, Skyler McMachen, Brooklyn Flemming, Weston, Wyatt and Will Schott, great-grandson Bridger Richardson; sister Lane Yager of Ione, CA; and niece Blair Yager (Patrick).

(Wally Schott’s address is Box 680, McLaughlin, SD 57642.)