Funeral services for N. Eileen Gienger, 89, of Herreid will be at 10:30 Am, Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church in Herreid. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Eileen passed away peacefully on September 28, 2016 at the Bethesda Home of Aberdeen, with her loving children at her side.

Eileen, daughter of Nels and Hilda (Tveit) Johnson, was born on July 26, 1927 near Frederick, SD. She attended a one room country school for grades 1-8 and then attended Barnard High School graduating in 1945. Eileen was baptized and confirmed at Aurland United Norwegian Lutheran Church in rural Frederick. She was proud of her heritage as 100% Norwegian, which she regularly reminded her family about.

Eileen and her sister, JoAnn, were known among their family and the community for their beautiful singing voices. They sang perfect harmonies, performing for family events and other functions. Also, since Eileen was 5 years older than JoAnn, she was tasked by their mother to chaperone JoAnn on dates and taking that responsibility seriously by sometimes sitting between JoAnn and her date.

In 1946 Eileen attended the Aberdeen School of Commerce taking courses in bookkeeping, secretarial skills, and shorthand. During the late 1940s she worked at her Aunt Sophia Gelling's restaurant in Frederick.

She married Richard Gienger on October 15, 1950 near Frederick. Their son, Douglas, was born in 1951 and daughter, Myrtis, was born in 1955.
The family farmed in the Frederick and Leola, SD areas from 1950 – 1963 and then moved to Herreid, SD. Eileen lived in Herreid until she moved into the Strasburg Care Center in August, 2012. She later moved to the Bethesda Home of Aberdeen until her passing.

While in Herreid, Eileen was active as a homemaker and full time day care provider for 3 grandchildren. She was a devoted member of Peace Lutheran Church, and she volunteered as the church treasurer and bookkeeper for over 30 years. She was an active member of the Peace Lutheran Ladies Aid and the Herreid Civic Club. She also volunteered at the Herreid City Library. Eileen was an avid reader and a great cook and baker.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Douglas (Catherine) Gienger of Maple Park, IL, and daughter and son-in-law, Myrtis (Mark) Vojta of Herreid; three granddaughters; two grandsons; one great granddaughter; three great grandsons; her sister and brother-in law, JoAnn (Ted) Derry; and sisters-in-law Clara Tschappat, Esther Gienger, Emma Rieger, and Sharon Gienger.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a grandson, Joseph Richard Gienger; and 5 brothers-in-law.