Funeral services for Dora Phillips, 71, of Eagle Butte, SD, are 10AM-MT, Monday, October 5, 2015, at the Old Agency Building in Eagle Butte. Burial at Bear Creek Cemetery of Bear Creek, SD, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. All-night wake is the night before, with a prayer service at 7PM-MT, at the Old Agency Building. Dora passed away Sunday, September 27, 2015 at the IHS Hospital in Eagle Butte.

Dora Linda Counting Phillips was born on August 2, 1944 to Sophie High Elk Garter and Simon Counting at the Old Agency Community, east of Swiftbird Community, SD. She spent her young years in the Old Agency Community attending all of her school years at Cheyenne-Agency Boarding School. Before leaving the community due to the flooding, she made a lot of childhood memories that she would always talk about, including the Cheyenne Indian Braves winning the 1959 State B basketball title. She would then move to the Bear Creek Community to live with her dad.

Dora gave birth to three children prior to meeting and marrying Wendell Phillips Sr. From her union with Wendell Sr., she gave birth to three more children, Preston, Wendy and Wendell Jr.

After her husband's passing in April of 1980, she did her best to always have a job, take care of her kids by making a home and most of all keeping a smile despite all of her daily challenges and struggles.

In October, 1988, she lost her oldest daughter, Jolene, unexpectedly, and took the responsibility of raising her grandchildren and helping them get through their school days.

Dora was a kind-hearted, talented, strong woman, who played the roles of mother and father through two generations of children. She had many passions and hobbies, but her most important passion was seeing all those she loved and cared for succeed and make it through their personal challenges with her humor and her laughter. She was a walking example of never giving up, and she always seemed to have an answer to someone's problem or road block. She will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched.

Survived by: Sisters: Barbara Iron Wing, LaPlante, SD; Phyllis (Roy) Begay, Window Rock, AZ; Brother: Tony (Joan) Garter, New Hope, AL; Sons: Preston (Pamela) Phillips, Dupree, SD; Wendell L. Phillips Jr., Eagle Butte, SD; Daughter: Wendy (Stan) Runs After, Eagle Butte, SD; Her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Preceded in Death by: Mother, Sophie High Elk (Garter); Father, Simon Counting; Brother, Kenneth Counting Sr.; Sisters, Ruth Counting and Gloria High Elk; Sons, Marco Counting, Marc Best; Daughter, Jolene Counting; Grandson, Franco D. Johnson.