Celia M. Shankster

Celia Marian (Smith) Shankster was born in Viking Township, South Dakota to Celia M. and Beatrice Smith on May 16, 1929. She was the sixth child of thirteen born to Beatrice (Gooding) Smith and the half-sister of four more born earlier to her father, Celia Smith. When eight years old, she moved with her family from South Dakota to Indiana after years of drought on the farm. She learned all the day’s school lessons from her older sister Ida Mae and thus was promoted two grades when she entered school.

Celia was given to adventure – signing up for summer camp as counselor in Canada, going off to Chicago to work as a secretary for the summer. At sixteen years of age, she and her sister headed off to Manchester College, joining in many campus religious activities, Bible study groups, and taking an interest in an Ohio farm boy who had been to China on a tractor unit, Owen Shankster. After graduating, she taught Home Economics and drama while her boyfriend finished another year of school. She married Owen Shankster on his birthday in May of 1950 and they took a whirlwind honeymoon trip around the eastern part of the United States before attending an annual conference of the Church of the Brethren in Ocean Grove, New Jersey where they committed to missionary service in Africa and were consecrated.

The adventure continued on a freighter, crossing the equator, going up the Congo River, and finally landing in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. They headed to a Church Missionary Society station in Asaba where Owen learned the art of construction, architecture, and Celia worked as bookkeeper. Her first child was born while in Asaba and her second was born after they transferred to the Church of the Brethren Mission field in Garkida. After the loss of twins Ellen May and Eileen Fay at birth, Celia gave birth to three more children. Celia wrote many letters documenting their work, challenges, and love for doing the Lord’s work. She was known as a great hostess. People loved her meals and andirim pies. She managed the girl’s dorm at Waka’s Teacher’s School, taught school and served as bursar for the school. She was always ready to take on new challenges.

Love of God and sharing Christ were her driving purpose in life. After her return to the United States after 41 years of work in Nigeria, Celia took on the role of deacon in her church and worked at Manchester University until she was in her eighties. She had little ditties for learning and for family activities. She sang all verses of songs even in the hospital at 4 in the morning. She was skilled with piano, old-style pump organ, accordion, and all manner of baking.

Celia was fully committed to her husband of 50 years, the mother of 7 biological children, grandma to 26 and great-grandma to 52, a sister, aunt and friend. A life well-lived, her grand adventure continues as she transitioned to be with our Lord on her 97th birthday. Celia was preceded in death by her husband, Owen, twin daughters, Ellen and Eileen, a son, Edwin, two daughters-in-law, Deb Shankster and Marilyn Shankster and son-in-law Don Black. She is survived by two sons, Donald (Karen) and Carl, and two daughters, Susan Semons and Janice Black and daughter-in-law, Linda Shankster. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10 am, at the Manchester Church of the Brethren. Her mission was to grow God’s kingdom. If you choose you may give to the Church of the Brethren (Global Mission), 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, Illinois, 60120 in honor of her memory.