Michael Shoener (Mike) was born on November 21, 1947 in Rapid City, South Dakota. He lived in the beautiful Black Hills all of his life until he passed away on August 14, 2026. Mike was known as a hard worker, funny, and loyal person. He was a social person and seemed to know everyone in some way or was involved in many parts of the culture and community here in Rapid City.

Being the youngest of 8 children, Mike kept his mother and father, Ann and Don Shoener quite busy in North Rapid growing up. Mike was proud of his paper route with the Rapid City Journal in North Rapid when growing up and also for helping his father build houses. He served as an altar boy at St. John’s Catholic church.

Mike attended St. John’s Grade school and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1965. After high school he traveled to Aberdeen and went to trade school to become a tool and die machinist. Soon after graduating with his passion for working with tools and metal, he opened up his own machine shop/garage on East North St. His first shop was known as the place to go to get whatever you needed worked on, and stories shared reveal it was a lively place to hang out. Mike could work on anything innovative with tools and metal fabrication including race cars, classic cars, motorcycles. He loved being a salesman selling machines.

Mike met Cindy Boland in 1974 and have been together ever since. Mike and Cindy were the perfect match due to their love of classic cars and restoring cars, and for the love of the Black Hills area. They have one daughter, Melissa Bierman.

After owning and operating his own small machine shop and working at Magnacraft, he was hired to be the tool and die maker for Landstroms’ Black Hills Gold in 1975. He was a huge asset to the company there and was awarded Employee of the Month and Employee of the year respectively. He was the go to man at the company to get something fixed or made. He completed his work there after serving 20 years.

After leaving Landstroms, Mike decided to open a tool and die shop on West St Louis and when he outgrew that shop he built his third beautiful successful shop off Deadwood Avenue. At this location he served the city, air force, small businesses, and industrial plants.

When Mike was not working he was busy flying airplanes. He was a private pilot and owned his own airplane in which he loved to fly locally. He also loved to go on trips with his family and meet up with his brother and sisters when they were in town.

In the later years in life, Mike experienced living with Alzheimer’s. Cindy was his primary caregiver and offered so much love and support to him during this time. He was out and about every day doing things to stay active and keep his mind going. He loved taking long walks at Canyon Lake, or going to his cabin in Deadwood. He also greeted all the neighbors and pets near his house with treats and kindness.

Survivors include his wife Cindy Boland. His daughter Melissa Bierman, son in law Jesse Bierman, and granddaughter Willa Bierman of Portland, Oregon. His brothers Jerry and Dennis, and sister Betty Callan, and sister-in-laws Karen, Nancy (Darrel) and Mary (Corey) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike was preceded in death by his brother Jack, Pat, Tim and Barbara (Sally) and his parents, Don and Ann Shoener.

Mike’s Visitation will be at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home on Thursday, August 20th from 5-7 pm.

Memorial Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 21st at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont, South Dakota. The Burial Service will follow the luncheon at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City, SD.

Remember me as I used to be,

Before the illness, which blighted me,

Swept faces and places from my mind...

I am at Peace now, I am me