September 3, 1951 – January 16, 2024
Marilyn Grace Kasto, 72, of Eagle Butte, passed away January 16, 2024 at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.
Funeral services were held January 26, 2024, at CRST Bingo Hall with burial in the Green Grass Cemetery.
M. Grace Kasto was born September 3, 1951, to Benny and Rose Hawk Eagle at Old Cheyenne Agency. She grew up with Lakota as her only language until she went to school, when she learned English. Her grandparents would take her with them to town, and she would speak for them to get credit and get groceries, etc. She and Grandma Nellie would walk the fields and pick medicines. She also enjoyed riding horses with her brothers and sisters, they would ride to Green Grass to play baseball with the community kids.
Grace was the first child of ten children. They grew up in the country west of Green Grass called Incpata, until the passing of her father, and then they moved to town. She married Abraham Kasto in March of 1968. To this union Dulcie, Winona, Naomi, Moria, and Seanacy were born. Grace was a hunka sister to Betty Archambault and a hunka daughter to Kenneth Young Bear.
Grace worked at the Cheyenne River YMCA Summer Camp. She then started college and worked at the CRST Head Start, where she met her long-time friends, Irma LaPlante, Cynthia Cleveland, Betty Archambault, Carol Little Wounded and Dawn Little Sky. She was involved in UCC activities but also learned the Lakota way of life. She sun danced at the first International Sundance in Green Grass, and raised her children with strong Lakota values and respect for church teachings.
She was employed at the CRST Motor Pool, Procurement Office, Inventory Clerk, and Director of Property & Supply. She finished her degree in Property & Supply from Northern State College. She then worked for Cheyenne River Community College Vo-Ed as a secretary and for the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School as a para-professional for the Science Department and Lakota classes.
In 1995 she became diabetic and had to quit working due to dialysis. Grace was on dialysis for 17 years.
Grace is survived by her husband, Abraham Kasto; children: Dulcie Kasto-Keith of Birmingham, AL, Winona Kasto, Naomi Kasto, Moria Kasto, and Seanacy Kasto, all of Eagle Butte; 15 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; one great-greatgrandchild; sisters: Betty (Dave) Archambault, Karen LeBeau, and Inez (Roger Sr.) Roather; aunt Margie Clown; cousins: Iva Traversie, Carrie and Carla Blue Coat, Reba Three Legs, Candace High Elk, Gayle Dupris, Sylvia Picotte, Nancy Red Dog, Richard Red Elk, Marvin, Merle, Sam, and Mark High Elk, Greg and Marty Thompson, and Roland Miner.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin Hawk Eagle Sr. and Elinor Rose Blue Coat; grandparents Thomas and Nellie Hawk Eagle; brothers Donovan, Frank, Darrell, Allen, and Benjamin Jr.; and sisters Doris Hawk Eagle and Frances Hawk Eagle.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.