Marilyn G. Kasto | 1951 - 2024
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Jan 17, 2024 | 11:37 AM / 253 views
Marilyn Grace Kasto, 72, of Eagle Butte, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. MST, Friday, January 26, 2024, at CRST Bingo Hall, Eagle Butte. Burial will follow in the Green Grass Cemetery. Wake services will be 6 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2024, at the church with a procession from the 4-mile at 4:00 p.m.
M. Grace Kasto was born September 3, 1951, to Benny and Rose Hawk Eagle at Old Agency. She grew up as Lakota as her only language until she went to school. She learned the English language. Her grandparents would take her with them to town, she would speak for them to get credit and get groceries, etc. She enjoyed summers with her grandparents, 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 soon 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 in earlier years. 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, raised her children with strong Lakota values and to respect the church teachings. She enjoyed life with her tiospaye, especially going on adventures with her Auntie Marge, Ann, May, and Phoebe.
Over the years, she was employed at the CRST Motorpool, 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 for many years. Grace moved on to work for the Cheyenne Eagle Butte High School as a para-professional for the Science Department and Lakota classes. In 1995 she became diabetic and soon she 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, Alabama, Winona Kasto of Eagle Butte, SD, Naomi Kasto of Eagle Butte, SD, Moria Kasto of Eagle Butte, SD, Seanacy Kasto of Eagle Butte, SD; 15 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; 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.; sisters: Doris Hawk Eagle and Frances Hawk Eagle.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Grace’s arrangements.