Eileen Shoestring, 73, will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Bullhead, SD. Burial will follow at the St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home. A procession will be leaving Kesling Funeral Home at 4:00 pm, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, to the Church. A wake and rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by an all-night wake. Eileen passed away on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at CHI St. Alexius Health Center in Bismarck.

Eileen Ruth Shoestring “Tatíyopa Slá Wíŋyan” (Her Door is Always Greasy) is the daughter of Jerome and Margaret Shoestring, she was born on August 8, 1952, in Blackhorse, South Dakota. Eileen was the seventh child of eight siblings, three brothers, and five sisters.

Eileen attended Bullhead Day School during her elementary years and continued her middle and high school education at McIntosh High School. For a brief period, Eileen also attended Job Corps in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She received her GED in 1969 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Eileen had a strong work ethic and was never hesitant about getting something done. She worked as a teacher aide at the Bullhead Day School for five plus years and would go on to work as the cook for the Nutrition for Elderly in Rock Creek for twenty-seven years. She very much enjoyed cooking for the elderly and loved making traditional Lakota foods such as frybread, Bapa soup and wojapi. It brought her joy to share and give back to the community.

Eileen was a kind, caring, humble, and generous woman. She was very much involved with her catholic faith at the St. Aloysius Catholic Church. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, attending pow wows, doing puzzles, and spending time with her family and friends. Eileen loved all her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren very much. She also cherished her beloved pets, Kaida, Bandit, Boone, and Olly.

She is survived by her son Justin, daughter Marie, grandchildren, Jude, Tallulah, Chris, Jamie Jr. Jordan, Jessmyn, Janae, Suri, Terrell, Makoce, Bella, Jerome, Bryson, Arianna, Alicia, Charlie, Samantha, Shyla, Scottie, Katie, Troy, Lakota, Dana, Dawn, Dena, Dane, Tiffany, Nolan, Anna, Maria, Olympia, Carter, Colty, and several others. Nieces and nephews, Tamara BigEagle, Nicole (Wes) White Eagle, Elston, Edgar, Dana, and Joe Yellow Earrings, Alvonne (Ray) Penola, Liza (Jamie) Lawrence, Jessie Red Bird, Rob Loy, Jamie Bendickson, and several others. We apologize if we miss anyone.

She is preceded in death by her parents Jerome and Margaret, brothers and sisters, Bessie, Anthony, Audrey, Mary Rose, Judith, Leroy, and Kerman and her son Todd.

We will miss her witty humor, cheerful outlook, and ability to make you laugh. Eileen was always open to helping others whether it was words of advice, Lakota virtues, or giving to those in need.