Steven Richard McAllister

Steven “Steve” Richard McAllister, the oldest son of William “Bill” and Eunice (Thorson) McAllister, was born on March 10, 1951, in Sioux City, Iowa. He was raised in Sioux City, where he attended elementary school, junior high, and high school. After graduating, he attended Iowa State University, where he took classes in Architectural Design.

Steve later worked various jobs in Sioux City, where he met the love of his life, Shannon. They met while working together at Walgreens.

On August 24, 1973, Steve married Shannon Carter in Sioux City, Iowa. Following their marriage, the couple lived in Sioux City for a short time before following their hippie hearts to the Pacific Coast, spending about a year in Eugene, Oregon. In 1975, they moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa, where Steve worked for DGR designing electrical power utility projects. In 1983, they moved to Spencer, Iowa, where Steve worked for S.M.U. in the electrical department until his retirement in 2011.

Steve was artistic by nature, enjoyed working with his hands, and regularly explored new hobbies. He loved woodworking, making ornaments, listening to music, attending concerts, playing guitar, and drawing with charcoal. In his younger years, Steve was very athletic—swimming, running cross country, and playing football—and he continued to enjoy golf well into retirement.

An avid reader throughout his life, Steve could spend hours talking with anyone. He deeply adored his family, and he and Shannon spent many hours traveling across the country to attend art shows, school concerts, graduations, and the weddings of their many nieces and nephews.

Steven passed away on December 22, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the age of 74, following a battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Craig.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Shannon of Spencer, Iowa; his brothers Jeff (Sandy) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, Tim (Robin) of Yankton, South Dakota, and Dan (Lanelle) of Harrisburg, South Dakota; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.