Funeral services for Shaunt'e DaShaun Jo Brownotter, 31, of Fargo, will be at 11:00 am Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Rock Creek. Burial will take place at the church cemetery following the service. A procession will be leaving Kesling Funeral Home at 5:00 pm, Monday, August 31, 2026, to the church. A rosary will begin at 7:00 pm, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church. Shaunte passed away on August 24, 2026, in Fargo. Funeral services are entrusted with Kesling Funeral Home.

Shaunt’e DaShaun Jo Brownotter (baby doll), Wicahpi Algi Win, was born on October 9, 1994, in Pierre, South Dakota, to Kelsey Brownotter and Justin Shields. Shaunt’e was a beautiful soul whose strength, humor, and perseverance left a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to know and love her.

When Shaunt’e walked into a room, she could change the entire trajectory of it. Her smile, humor, energy, and larger-than-life personality could brighten even the heaviest room. She made people laugh, feel welcome, and reminded them there was always something worth smiling about.

Shaunt’e spent parts of her life in Bullhead, McLaughlin and Fort Thompson, South Dakota. She attended Rock Creek Head Start and graduated from high school in McLaughlin in 2013. She participated in cross country, basketball, track, and the Snow Queen Pageant. She was Homecoming Queen her junior year and Prom Queen her senior year. Shaunt’e also modeled in the Black Hills before joining the National Guard.

After high school, Shaunt’e attended Sitting Bull College and volunteered as a firefighter at Standing Rock, including serving with a hotshot crew. She later lived in Crow Creek and Bismarck before moving to Fargo in 2020.

In Fargo, Shaunt’e continued fighting to build a different life for herself. She became a Certified Peer Support Specialist in 2025 and successfully completed Treatment Court in May 2026. In July 2026, she began working at Lighthouse Church as a Certified Peer Support Specialist providing 1915(i) services.

Shaunt’e was passionate about giving back. She volunteered with the Ridge Treatment and Re-entry Center as a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitator and helped with women’s groups. She volunteered with Jail Chaplains, helped facilitate Celebrate Recovery, participated in Wellbriety, and held service positions within the Narcotics Anonymous community. In 2026, she also shared her testimony at the Global Leadership Summit in Fargo, using her story to show others that change and hope were possible.

Within the recovery community, Shaunt’e became affectionately known as “Sunshine”. Even though she struggled with addiction, addiction was never all that she was. She knew what it meant to struggle, fall, get back up, and keep fighting. Her experiences gave her an incredible ability to meet people where they were without judgment and help them feel less alone.

Sunshine was the perfect name for Shaunt’e because of the way she made people feel. She was funny, compassionate, authentic, and full of life. She became a leader among women in recovery and turned some of the hardest parts of her own life into hope for others.

Shaunt’e’s story will never be defined solely by addiction. Her story lives in the obstacles she overcame, the recovery she fought for, the people she helped, the laughter she brought into rooms, and the countless lives that are better because they knew her. She was a very strong believer in her faith and culture.

There were storms in Shaunt’e’s life, but somehow, even through those storms, she continued to shine. The world may feel a little darker without Sunshine in it, but the light she gave to others will continue through everyone who loved her and carries a piece of her story forward.

She survived by 2 very special grandparents Jolean Brownotter and Vicki Lambert, grandpa Charlie, 2 sisters Kaleigh Crowghost, LaStacia McGhee, 1 brother Kane Ridley, God parents, Rozelle and Darrel Lockwood. Grandparents Quentin, Percy Sr. Courtney, Ivan, Ronald, Janet all of Bullhead, SD. Oliver Shields JR. Fort Thompson, SD. Aunts and Uncles Larry Brownotter, Brady Brownotter, Collin Brownotter, Clinton Bendickson, Tabor and Tyrel, Dawn Joe, Shannon and Jason Shields, Jess, Jonathan St. John, Shawna Lambert, special nieces Aria, Ariel, and Kara, and 1 nephew Copper. Preceded in death by Great Grand Parents Clayton and Cecila Brownotter, Uncle Christian Bendickson cousin J’Von Sheilds, cousin Kale Bendickson, and friend Christopher Svenby.

You were loved by so many and impacted the lives of everyone. You mattered. You made a difference, your legacy will live on. And your light will never be forgotten. Toksa akhe.