Rhonda Lee Schettler

Rhonda Lee Schettler, 61, of Bismarck, passed away peacefully on Oct.27 2019 at Sanford Medical Center in the presence of family. Mass of a Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 2, 1:00 PM, at Ascension Catholic Church, 1825 S 3^rd St, Bismarck with Msgr. James Braaten officiating.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 1, from 5:00 to 9:00 PM, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck where a vigil service will begin at 7:00 PM.

Burial will be held on Saturday, November 2, at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Rhonda was born April 3, 1958, in Minot North Dakota, to Frank Titus Benson and Olive Sholass-Spotted Bear-Benson. She was raised in the Twin Buttes and Halliday area, where she graduated high school.

It was there Rhonda met Dave. The high school sweethearts married in 1977 (Dave married up). This union would bring about Rhonda’s greatest joy, her four children. Rhonda had always been enamored by children and relished spending time with them. She became a paraprofessional for Bismarck Public Schools for 15 years and her hard work didn’t go unnoticed. She was awarded Paraprofessional Of The Year, an achievement she and her family were proud of.  

All those years spent in schools would train her for the job she was truly destined for; being a grandmother. And at that job, there was no one better than Rhonda. Her five grandchildren were her pride and joy and the recipients of her unrelenting love and affection. The capacity of Rhonda’s heart knew no bounds. She created family wherever she went. She became a mother, grandmother and sister to those fortunate enough to meet her. The tenderness and warmth didn’t stop there. Rhonda loved animals and cared for them with the same adoration she had for her own children.

Rhonda was entirely selfless. One of her favorite hobbies included shopping. She would haul around bags and bags of clothes, filling her car to the brim with goodies. None of which were for her. Her children and grandchildren never had to worry about buying themselves new things, Rhonda already took care of it.

She was a glass half full kind of lady (unless that glass was filled with a good margarita). Rhonda was compassionate, fully and wholeheartedly loving and always prepared to go to bat for those she loved. She was fiercely protective; her children would say almost too protective. Her relationship with God was important to her. Often times you could find Rhonda wearing one of her many cross necklaces to accessorize her always fashionable black clothing. She and her father took a trip to Jerusalem together. For her it was the culmination of a life of faith as she was baptized in the Jordan River. As always, she brought souvenirs home for her loved ones.

She is survived by her loving husband, David; four children; Brittann (Kelly) Schettler, Summitt (Grant) Baker, Satchall (Stephanie) Schettler and Sashay Schettler (Andy Henes), all of Bismarck. Five grandchildren; Berkley, Sawyer, Bridger, Keane and Briggs. Sisters; Marian (Myron Kreuger) Spotted Bear, Roberta (Dennis) Dahlen, Ivetta (David) Holding Eagle, And Helyn (Mark Erickson); three brothers, Lonnie (Diana) Spotted Bear, Kelly (Dee Dee) Spotted Bear and Barry Benson.

Rhonda was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Titus Benson and Olive Sholass-Spotted Bear-Benson; her sisters, G. Janet Spotted Bear-Gunderson, Sandy Spotted Bear, Alyce Spotted Bear and Karen Lynch; and her brother, Marty Benson.