Penny Lee Schonebaum was born on Thanksgiving Day, 1955 at the Burke Hospital to Byron and Linda (Buryanek) Kelso. She entered Gods Eternal Ranch on May 15, 2007, after a five year battle with cervical cancer.

During her childhood years, Penny resided in Deadwood and Sioux Falls. She graduated from Burke High School in 1974. In her adult years, Penny called the communities of Armour, Bonesteel and Burke her home.

Penny married Joseph Schonebaum on May 24, 1974 and to this union seven children were born: Kody Lee in 1972, Kasey Jo in 1974, Kiley Joseph in 1976, Kassidy Allen in 1977, Kip James in 1978, Klay Andrew in 1980 and Kolt Kelso in 1983.

Penny held many jobs throughout her life: she managed the Burke Lumber Yard; was the best secretary at an insurance office; bartended; prepared income tax; sat on the credit union board; and worked at the Post Office as a rural mail carrier. From 1996 until October of 2002, Penny managed the Cadillac Ranch indoor rodeo arena and restaurant. Pennys smiling face and constant frenzy to keep tables and windows clean at the Cadillac Ranch will be remembered by everyone. She always made time to visit with everyone. At the time of her death, Penny was employed at the Burke School as an assistant cook. She cherished all of the students and teachers, regarding them as her second family. Her most prized job was as a grandmother, but Penny was a friend to everyone and anyone who crossed her path.

In her younger years, she competed in rodeo and helped instill a love for the sport in her kids and grandkids. She had many loves: her husband, kids and grandkids; being a biker babe; tattoos; quilting; every dog; her miniature ponies; the Cadillac Ranch; her friends and the Black Hills. She was a member of the Burke Riding Club, the Rosebud Quilt Guild, the Sacred Heart Church, and the YaYa Sisterhood. She will be remembered as one who loved the holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, and for having baby animals around for all of the grandkids and neighborhood kids to play with.

Penny is survived by her husband, Joseph, and dog, Boo of Burke, SD; one daughter, Kasey (Bryan) Hanson of Burke, SD; six sons: Kody (Jennifer) of Lakewood, CO; Kiley (Tina) of Herrick, SD; Kassidy (Kelli) of Tyndall, SD; Kip (Mandee) of Colome, SD; Klay of Burke, SD; and Kolt( Annie) of Burke, SD. Her seventeen cherished grandchildren: Skyler, Schae, Levi, Morgan, Caitlin, Haylee, Olivia, Joseph, Lainee, Finn, Jaxson, Kort, Ramee Jo, Kasper, Piper, Kaleb, and Aspen Penny. Her father, Byron Kelso, and personal friend Jacque Juracek of Burke, SD; one sister, Holly Reuer of California; her mother-in-law, Phyllis Schonebaum of Bonesteel, SD; brother-in-law, Jeff (Kim) Schonebaum and sister-in-law, Joy Schonebaum both of Bonesteel, SD; Her aunts: Myrna Brunz of Burke, SD; Julie (Doug) Osnes of Pierre, SD, Linda (Steve) Dibiaso of Oxnard, CA; her uncles: Jim (Diane) Buryanek of Burke, SD; Larry Kelso of Sioux Falls, SD; Grant Kelso of Spearfish, SD; a host of nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces; her special friends: Ronnie and Julie Johnson, Joe and Mary Fahrenbacher, Dewayne Bennett and Roger and Linda Johnson.

Penny was preceded in death by her mother, Linda Kelso; her father-in-law, Walter Schonebaum; a brother-in-law, Buzz Schonebaum; her aunt, Belva Kracht and her maternal and paternal grandparents: Doc and Leota Kelso and Herb and Eunice Buryanek.

Memorial services will be held Friday, May 18, 2007 at 10:30 AM at the Civic Center in Burke. Inurnment will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. There will be a prayer service on Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Civic Center. Penny died May 15, 2007 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Burke.