Eileen Brabazon, age 92 of Lodgepole, passed away at her home on Sunday morning, March 18, 2012.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes in Hettinger, ND. Rev. Dan Lindeman will officiate and burial will follow at the Lodgepole Cemetery in Lodgepole, SD with refreshments to follow at the Lodgepole Hall. Visitations will be from noon to 7:00 p.m. at the Centennial Chapel on Friday, March 23 and one hour prior to the service on Saturday afternoon.

Special music will be provided by Jill Sailer and Todd Buer. Serving as Casketbearers will be Dennis Brabazon, Dustin Kelso, Tyler Chapman, Darlen Kroft, Jason Delo, Leslie Randall, Tom Kelly and Fred Rios.

Eileen Bennetta Stalder was born the 6th of 15 children to Ernest and Anna (Ronsgard) Stalder on May 2, 1919, in Glenham, SD. She grew to adulthood 20 miles south of Strool, SD. Her father raised milk cows. In the winter when bringing in the cows to milk, she and her sister would stand where the cows had been laying to warm their bare feet. They each milked ten cows every morning, separated the milk and fed the calves before walking three miles to school. She attended the Wyondotte Elementary School through the eighth grade. She had to quit school one winter as she had no shoes to wear.


For a time during Eileen's teenage years her and her sister would ride ten miles horseback on Saturday nights to Billy Pauls barn dances. The music would play until dawn. They would ride home in time for morning chores and the days work.


On October 1, 1935, she married Raymond R. Brabazon at Macintosh, SD. Three daughters were born to this union: Delores Eileen, (known as Beanie), Azelle Dyann, and Betty Arlene. In 1939 they purchased the Thompson place and moved to the Lodgepole area. On April 1, 1946, they purchased the Alec Norton farm. That has been her home for the past 72 years.


Before semi trailers became the way to haul stock to market, they trailed their lambs to Hettinger in the fall to put on the stock train and ship to Sioux City, Iowa. They bought their first car, a Model T, in 1936 for $10.00 and one bum lamb.


Eileen worked very hard all her life. She worked outside alongside her husband as well as maintaining an efficient and comfortable home. She was a knowledgeable steward of the livestock and enjoyed working with the baby lambs and raising orphan lambs.


Above all, Eileen loved to garden. She was well known for her huge bountiful garden and strawberry patch. She killed skunks and rattlesnakes with her hoe when they dared to invade her garden space. Friends and neighbors were always rewarded with the fruits of her garden labors when they happened to stop for a visit.


Eileen was a wonderful cook, baker, and candy maker. She was known for her delicious home cooked meals, canned goods and desserts. She never used prepared mixes. She could make anything from chocolate covered cherries to buckets of homemade cookies that she always had on hand for the grandchildren and who ever dropped by unexpectedly.


Eileen had a keen sense of humor, a kind and caring disposition, a definite sense of fairness and was of very strong character. She was an avid reader, reading everything from Farm Journals to anything available. She enjoyed playing cards, dancing, entertaining and visiting with friends and relatives and listening to music. She often sang while she worked. Her home was so welcoming that the Brabazon relatives from Michigan and Indiana always stopped first at her home and stayed for several days. She loved her family. She was the matriarch and they were her universe.


Grateful to have shared her life are her daughters, Dyann (Leonard) Hanson, Lodgepole, SD; Betty (Mike) Chapman, Rawlins, WY.


Grand Children: Deborah (Bruce) Kile, Shadehill, SD; Darlen and special friend Cynthia of South Hettinger, ND; Dixie and Julie Hanson, Hettinger, ND; Tyler (Annabel) Chapman, Rawlins, WY; and Sarah (Jason Delo) Chapman, Cheyenne, WY.


Great Grand Children: Nicole (Morgan) Edwards, Bismarck, ND; Joseph Kroft and special friend Jordyn, Belgrade, MT; Faith Kile, Spearfish, SD; Brandi (Dustin) Kelso, Hettinger, ND; Ivory and Breanna Hanson, Hettinger, ND; Katie and Kagen Chapman, Rawlins, WY; and Sterling Delo, Cheyenne, WY.


Great-Great Grand Children: Elijah and Ezekiel Edwards, Bentley Kroft and Trig Kelso.


Also mourning her passing are several extended family members and friends.


Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her parents, her daughter Delores and son-in-law Duane Kroft and all fourteen of her brothers and sisters: Murno, Arnold, Harry, Ernest (Shorty), Robert, William, Leon, Cletus, Mercedes Edwards, Ione Brabazon, Darlene Smith and three infant children.