Susan King Schutz

Susan Jane King Schutz, age 99, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 7, 2024, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, Aberdeen, SD.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Monsignor Steven Barnett will be celebrating both the Rosary and the Mass.

Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery after the Mass.

A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the burial at the parish hall.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, March 17, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel with a 5:00 p.m. Liturgical Wake & Rosary service.

Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Memorials may be sent to the Roncalli Foundation, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, or the Presentation Sisters.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be live-streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SchriversMemorial available the day of the services.

Susan was born on August 10, 1924, on the family farm in Kimball, SD, to Michael “Mick” and Catherine “Kit” (Kennedy) Smith.  She grew up in a loving family, with her brother James and sister Mary, despite difficulties of farm life during the Depression.  Driven by her insatiable curiosity, Susan explored the world of dance and music at an early age, setting up a dance studio in Kimball with music accompaniment provided by her best friend, Doris Kingsbury.

After her graduation from Kimball High School in 1942, Susan enrolled at South Dakota State University and majored in Pharmacy.  She paid for her college tuition by teaching dance.  Susan became a cheerleader for the Jackrabbits and graduated with a pharmacy degree in 1946.  She then moved to Aberdeen, SD to begin a Pharmacy internship at St. Luke’s Hospital.  While there, she met and fell in love with a young physician, Dr. Bernard King, who was working with his father, Dr. H.I. King and recovering from severe burns received in a military hospital fire.

Susan and Bernard married on February 16, 1949, and eventually made their home on North Lincoln Street.  They raised ten children and were lifelong members of Sacred Heart Church, where their faith was at the center of their family life.

On December 15, 1972, Susan’s husband, Bernard, died in a car accident. With three kids in college and six children still at home, Susan went back to work as a pharmacist for a brief period.  She then became a commodities broker and later a stockbroker, working with Jim Stephenson and others at John G. Kinnard in Aberdeen.

Susan was lucky enough to find love again with Raymond Schutz who lost his wife (Rheta) in 1982. Ray and Susan married in 1987 and built a beautiful life together on North Jay Street in Aberdeen with their blended family.  Susan and Ray enjoyed traveling together and attending many graduations, weddings and baptisms of their children and grandchildren until Ray’s passing in March 2012.  Susan remained in their North Jay Street home until her passing, regularly welcoming and visiting with family and friends.

Susan was a force of life.  She had tremendous faith in God and so loved her family and friends.  Her devotion to sobriety was fueled by her fellowship with the AA community and her family.  Any chance she would get, she would use her recovery to serve as an inspiration to others on their journey. 

Susan had a genuine interest in people and the world until the end.  You could find her every day at the kitchen table with the Wall Street Journal and a hot cup of coffee.  She loved sports and enjoyed watching her favorites on TV, including The Fighting Irish, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs!

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to Jenny Johnson-Bistodeau whose work relationship and friendship with Susan started over 12 years ago.  Jenny’s love, compassion and unwavering commitment to Susan truly enriched her life.  Susan sincerely loved Jenny and felt comforted by her presence every day.

We would also like to offer our special thanks to the entire AngelKare staff who treated Susan with warmth, care and kindness throughout their time with her.

Lastly, we would like to offer our sincerest thanks to Jerry Trefz who brought so much joy to Mom’s life with beautiful decorations for each new season and holiday.

Bernard and Susan were blessed with ten children: Mary (Bill) Novotny of Phoenix, AZ, Kathy (Charlie) Hanish of Fargo, ND, Judy (Tom) Lien of Rapid City, SD, Bernard Jr. “Biff”(Kathy) King M.D. of Estero, FL, Hiram “H.I.” King J.D. (deceased) (wife, Buffy) of Aberdeen, SD, Elizabeth (Denny) Barnett of Shawnee, KS, Jane King of Asheville, NC, Jennifer (Mike) Klisares of Overland Park, KS, James “Sam” (Sue) King J.D. of Omaha, NE, and Alison (Kevin) Randall of Monroe, NC; Tom Novotny, Annie Novotny, John Novotny, Joe Novotny, Theresa Covert M.D., Liz Nelson, Susan Anderson, Sarah Kennelly D.N.P., Christi O’Donnell M.D., Tommy Lien, Maria Lien, Bernie (III) King J.D., Kevin King, Leslie Hauser, Lauren King Meehan J.D., Betsy King, Kaitlin Malsom, Annie King, Sam King, Maggie Barnett Kanatzar, Pharm. D., Jim Barnett M.D., Natasha King, Andre King, Aaliyah King, Christina Klisares McGreevy, Jack Klisares, Erin King, Katherine King, John King, Mars Randall, and Genevieve Randall; and 32 great-grandchildren. 

Susan was blessed yet again when she became a stepmother to six Schutz children: David (deceased), Mark (Annette) of San Francisco, Scott J.D of Rapid City SD, Robert M.D. (Brandi) of Rapid City, Kathleen Schneekloth M.D. (Jeff) of Sioux Falls; and Brad of Salt Lake City; and 11 grandchildren:  Adam Schutz, Julia Schutz, Cora Schutz, Ben Schutz, Alicia Cooper, Wade Schutz, Will Schutz, Sydney Schutz, Simone Schneekloth, August Schneekloth and Valeria Schutz.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Mary Margaret Black; brother James Smith; her son H.I. King; her great granddaughter Geneva Christine King; and both of her husbands, Bernard and Ray.

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