Eileen Sittner Reed, age 85 of Whitewood, SD, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at the Spearfish Canyon Health in Spearfish, SD.

A Family visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00pm and a Prayer Service at 6:00pm on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitewood, SD.

Funeral Services for Eileen will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon.  Pastor David Baer will officiate with burial in Greenhill Cemetery, Lemmon, SD.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 1:00 to 7:00 pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home.

A Family Service will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday evening, September 10, at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

Eileen was born in Lemmon, SD on April 28, 1934 to Edna (Malloy) and Leo Bartell. During her childhood the family spent the summers in Montana where Leo did ranch work. Eileen attended school in Lemmon graduating with the Lemmon High School Class of 1952. Following graduation, Eileen attended college in Aberdeen, SD receiving her teaching certificate.

Eileen taught elementary school in Morristown, SD for one year.

On March 26, 1954, Eileen married Albert Sittner and they established their home on the Sittner family farm near Thunder Hawk, SD. Four children were born to this union, Marlys, Diane, Susan, and Ron.

During their years on the farm, Eileen worked as a homemaker who took lunches to the field, raised a huge garden, did her own canning, taught her daughters how to cook, sew, and bake.

In 1969, the Sittner family moved into Lemmon and Eileen worked for the school in the lunchroom.

Eileen was widowed at age 39, when Albert was killed during a farm accident. She continued to make her home in Lemmon and worked at the Lemmon Clinic.

In 1975, Eileen married Rodney Reed and moved to Mooreland, Oklahoma. She continued to plant a large garden, and maintain their new home. During her time in Oklahoma, she began a career as a Home Interiors decorator. Eileen earned numerous awards from this company and her family was very proud of her accomplishments.

Rodney was later transferred with his company to Joliet, Illinois, and Eileen continued to sell Home Interiors. Eileen quickly made another group of lifelong friends. She was the Leader of TOPS, and active in their church and other community events.

Rodney and Eileen made numerous trips and cruises to locations such as Alaska and Panama. They loved traveling and often took their granddaughter Niki with them.

Upon retirement, Eileen and Rodney moved to Whitewood, SD to be closer to family. She was a wonderful cook, and enjoyed having her children and grandchildren visit often.

Eileen and Rodney became "snow birds" and began spending their winters in Mesa, AZ. They spent many season at the Aztec community and she was active in numerous committees. The Reeds will always be remembered at Aztec for their beautiful dancing.

Keeping her in their fondest memories are her husband, Rodney Reed, Whitewood, SD;  daughters, Marlys Sittner (Boyd Sliper), Loveland, CO; Diane (John) Sooter, Ft. Morgan, CO; Susan (Steve) Sandgren, Lemmon, SD; Cathy (Mike) Elliott, Woodward, OK; Christie Reed, Woodward, OK; sons, Ron (Frances) Sittner, Mooreland, OK; Nathan (Marty) Reed, Blanchard, OK; 15 grandchildren, Niki Sittner (Guy Russie),  Brandon (Michelle) Sooter, DeeAndra (Wayne)Stevens, Lesley (Cody) Kling, Rachel (Kyle) Dalzell, Kedron Sittner, Brady (Rachelle) Sittner, Jared Mueller, Dustin (Ashley) Mueller, Jackson (Julie) Coats, Jeff Elliott, John Elliott, Andrew Moutray, Heather (Caleb) Annesley, Amber Griffin;  16 great grandchildren;  sister-in-law, Alice Sittner Heinrich, McKinney, TX.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband Albert and her parents Leo and Edna Bartell.

A memorial has been established to Dementia Research.