In Memory

Shannon Spencer VIEW PROFILE

Shannon Spencer

In Memory Of

Shannon J. Spencer age 48 of Helena

June 12, 1971November 24, 2019

In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 24, 2019, Shannon J. Spencer drifted peacefully away in his sleep of natural causes in Bozeman, Montana.  He was born June 12, 1971 in Helena, Montana, where he lived his whole life.

Shannon graduated from Helena High School and entered adulthood as a proud Marine. He traveled to seventeen countries during his term of service. He served honorably in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. While serving he developed a large brain tumor that resulted in him having a metal plate in his head which, much to his amusement, would set off the security alarms every time he entered Home Depot.   He spent many years working with his Dad as the Foreman for Spencer Concrete. He also worked at Respond, an emergency medical supply distributor.  Shannon was a rescue diver for Lewis & Clark County Search and Rescue. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the JFC, Impact Montana, the Marine Corps League, and a founding member of the Wolf Pack. For the last decade he dedicated himself to serving and assisting Veterans, most recently as a Veteran Employment Coordinator for the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. His work helping veterans began with his involvement in Volunteers of America, where he won an award in 2015 for his “work ethic and endless caring for our nation’s veterans”.  In 2017 he was one of a select few in the nation that was awarded the U.S. Secretary of the VA Coin by U.S. Secretary David Shulkin. The prestigious coin acknowledged Shannon’s work in consistently going above and beyond in providing continuing service to Montana veterans. U.S. Senator Jon Tester attended to personally congratulate Shannon.

Shannon had two children with Michelle Lee Olson, his first wife. Kaitlin Jay was born in 1994, whom Shannon nicknamed Sis, and Jesse Lee was born in 1996, who Shannon called LB.  He loved his kids, sharing with them all he had and all he had to teach. Kaitlin knows her story telling ability (or actually lack of ability) comes from her father. She’ll forever cherish a 2006 hunting trip where, after having long- prepared for her first season, when Kaitlin finally got a bull in her site she started shaking and realized she didn’t want the bull to die. Despite being an avid hunter, when Shannon’s daughter decided the bull should live, he honored her wishes.  Jesse’s favorite memories of his Dad include paint-balling the shed, responding to the dog’s injury when it attacked a firework, the time Shannon decided to trim his eyebrows and accidentally shaved them off entirely, and the time his Dad was carving Jesse’s elk and claimed he had found Jesse’s bullet, tossing it to him so quick when Jesse opened his hand he realized he was holding elk poop.

After many years of friendship, in 2010 due to Shannon’s persistence Candi realized they might be in a relationship. Neither having remembered when they had actually started spending all their time together, they decided to do a “pick a date” to identify when they began. The date chosen was March 11, 2010. On July 13, 2013 Shannon and Candi were married in front of friends and family at the Little Red School House on the outskirts of Helena. Shannon loved his life partner and wife, whom he affectionately called “Turbo”. What sticks most with Candi was Shannon’s big heart, his goofy humor, his loyalty and the depth with which he cared for people and animals. He was not good with money but that’s because there’s nothing he valued more than friends, family, and those in need. There’s was a love that ran deep, was forgiving of antics and flaws, was bound by a commitment to one another and a generosity to others, and was sprinkled with laughter and joy.

He loved the outdoors; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, jeep mudding, boating, floating, horseshoes, and wrestling. He was a prankster, causing decades of laughter and memories among those lucky enough to have known him.

Though Shannon was known for adventures and calamities, he was an adrenaline fueled softie. Shannon had a generous heart. He would give the shirt off his back to help anyone. He loved helping veterans.  He had matching tattoos with his father Chuck, and his Uncle Jay – all of them Marines – that were very meaningful to him. He had a hero’s instinct as a diver, as a husband and father, and as a friend. The passing of his mother when he was in his twenties took a piece of him and it warms hearts to know they are together again.

He loved his many friends and large family, having always been surrounded by many. He was an animal lover, so much so that his yellow lab Ruger joined him on his travels to the hereafter one day later.

Shannon was preceded in death by his mother Billie Ann Spencer, his cousin James Lain, his Uncle and Aunt Rod & Shirley Johnson, his Aunts Joan Spencer and Marilee Johnson, his grandparents Bill and Ann Sanders and Pat and Oliver Spencer, and his cousins Kirk and Kent Johnson.  He is survived by his loving wife Candice Curriero Spencer, his children Kaitlin Jay Spencer and Jesse Lee Spencer, his parents Charles J. and Janice Spencer, his sister Stacy Konkol (Josh) and their children Brayden, Zayne, Kaysen, and Jayce. He is also survived by his step sister Ashleigh Heimbach, his Aunt Jan Hanson Dell, Uncle Jay Howard, Uncle Ron Johnson (Sue), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family.

The service will be held at Helena First Assembly of God Church at 2210 Dodge Ave. in Helena on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with reception to immediately follow. The burial service will be at Fort Harrison on Monday, December 2nd at 2:00 p.m.  Family and friends will gather afterward at the East Helena VFW.  Memorials in lieu of flowers should be sent to the Shannon “Shan” Spencer Memorial Fund for Veterans at Montana Joining Community Forces P.O. Box 4417 Helena MT 59604.

https://helenafuneralhome.com/obituaries/shannon-j-spencer-age-48-of-helena/?fbclid=IwAR0bpV3SUglDEPed21tuLJ0CCPGGxyDmL5OJx_mND_zZa9Y8ikifZQ3Iklw



 
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12/04/19 07:08 AM #1    

Jeannine Bruni (Dinges)

I am so sorry to hear of this news. What a beautiful tribute. Peace Shannon.


12/05/19 07:30 PM #2    

Justin Williams

 

WHAT A PATRIOT YOU ARE SPENCER !!!

AND WHAT A GREAT PLACE YOUR IN NOW BROTHER !!!!!

MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY!!!!

 

JUSTIN WILLIAMS


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