Eileen Bortness
May 26, 1920 ~ May 5, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Eileen Loretta Vopat was born May 26, 1920 to Edward W and Elizabeth (Brick) Vopat at their home in Union Township, Hyde County, Zeigler, South Dakota. Eileen died May 5, 2008 at Sanford Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 87 years, 11 months and five days.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with David Peterson officiating. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery. Visitation was from 3:00 - 7:00p.m., Friday, at the Luze Funeral Home in Highmore with a 7:00p.m. prayer service.
Eileen received her elementary education at Rice Lake School in Union Township traveling three miles to school on horseback. She graduated from Seneca High School in 1937 and attended Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. After graduation she worked for the WPA and the Office of the Price Administration (OPA). As chief clerk she was responsible for the distribution of the stamps and rationing books. She resigned in November, 1944. She went back to work in 1963 in the ASCS and County Superintendent’s Office. Then she worked for Drew-Wright Agency until 1968. That year she was elected Hyde County Auditor, a position that she loved and was very proud to serve. She retired in March of 1987.
Eileen married Herman S. Bortness on September 2, 1944 in the American Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota. They made their first home in an apartment of the Former Franklin Hotel until they purchased their home where Eileen lived until her death. To this union two children were born, a daughter, Karol Kae and a son, Steven Edward.
Eileen loved people and could be seen at almost every school and community activity and was always proud of everyone’s accomplishments. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore and the Order of the Eastern Star where she had been secretary for 30 years, a past Matron, a Grand Page and a Grand Representative to Texas for the Grand Chapter of South Dakota. Eileen was also a 4-H leader, Cub Scout leader, a charter member of the Women’s Civic League, the Senior Center and various other organizations. She was an active member of the Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society. She spent many hours working on booklets about Hyde County activities and history. She drew on her experiences since she had lived through the dirty thirties with grasshoppers, bank closings, drought, dust storms, no electricity and hard times.
She enjoyed playing bingo and cards at the senior center. As a member of the Golden Age Club, she also enjoyed decorating the meeting room every month. Traveling and going out to eat were two other things that Eileen enjoyed. One highlight was when she went on vacation to Florida with her husband and children. During that trip they went to Washington, DC and visited the Capitol Building and Arlington National Cemetery. These were things that Eileen never thought she would see.
Her memory will be cherished by her children: Karol Kae and Steven Edward Bortness of Highmore, South Dakota; two sisters: Nadine Day and Beverly (Lee) Straight of Highmore, South Dakota; one sister-in-law: Florence (James) Soper of Kelseyville, California and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and a host of cousins, family and friends.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Herman Bortness; her parents; one sister-in-law: Elmira Bulen and two brothers-in-law: Orris Day and Lawrence Bortness.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with her arrangements.
Funeral services were held at 10:30a.m., Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with David Peterson officiating. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery. Visitation was from 3:00 - 7:00p.m., Friday, at the Luze Funeral Home in Highmore with a 7:00p.m. prayer service.
Eileen received her elementary education at Rice Lake School in Union Township traveling three miles to school on horseback. She graduated from Seneca High School in 1937 and attended Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri. After graduation she worked for the WPA and the Office of the Price Administration (OPA). As chief clerk she was responsible for the distribution of the stamps and rationing books. She resigned in November, 1944. She went back to work in 1963 in the ASCS and County Superintendent’s Office. Then she worked for Drew-Wright Agency until 1968. That year she was elected Hyde County Auditor, a position that she loved and was very proud to serve. She retired in March of 1987.
Eileen married Herman S. Bortness on September 2, 1944 in the American Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota. They made their first home in an apartment of the Former Franklin Hotel until they purchased their home where Eileen lived until her death. To this union two children were born, a daughter, Karol Kae and a son, Steven Edward.
Eileen loved people and could be seen at almost every school and community activity and was always proud of everyone’s accomplishments. She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore and the Order of the Eastern Star where she had been secretary for 30 years, a past Matron, a Grand Page and a Grand Representative to Texas for the Grand Chapter of South Dakota. Eileen was also a 4-H leader, Cub Scout leader, a charter member of the Women’s Civic League, the Senior Center and various other organizations. She was an active member of the Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society. She spent many hours working on booklets about Hyde County activities and history. She drew on her experiences since she had lived through the dirty thirties with grasshoppers, bank closings, drought, dust storms, no electricity and hard times.
She enjoyed playing bingo and cards at the senior center. As a member of the Golden Age Club, she also enjoyed decorating the meeting room every month. Traveling and going out to eat were two other things that Eileen enjoyed. One highlight was when she went on vacation to Florida with her husband and children. During that trip they went to Washington, DC and visited the Capitol Building and Arlington National Cemetery. These were things that Eileen never thought she would see.
Her memory will be cherished by her children: Karol Kae and Steven Edward Bortness of Highmore, South Dakota; two sisters: Nadine Day and Beverly (Lee) Straight of Highmore, South Dakota; one sister-in-law: Florence (James) Soper of Kelseyville, California and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces and a host of cousins, family and friends.
Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Herman Bortness; her parents; one sister-in-law: Elmira Bulen and two brothers-in-law: Orris Day and Lawrence Bortness.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with her arrangements.
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Our heartfelt sympathy to Eileens family. Our community has lost a special lady. I know she was a charter member of the Civic League and so many things Highmore has such as a baseball park, swimming pool, parks are because of ladies like her who worked hard to make the community a safe and better place to raise their families. Eileen always kept up with each generation of children growing up in Highmore and was a huge supporter of the students and school. I never once met her on the street that we didn’t have something to visit about and she was always so encouraging. I will miss her very much and my heart goes out to her family. What a wonderful lady! Susan, Brian Bast
Prentice, Dickson and Roman
I’ll miss Eileen as she was my genealogy buddy and I’ll I had to do was ask her about the history of Highmore. I just loved all her help and displays at the museum and everthing she shared and showed me.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I have such great memories of the times we’d return to Highmore and mom would get together with her cousins to visit. Yes Eileen loved to visit. I can’t be there physically, but my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love, Marlene
To the family of Eileen Bortness,
You don’t know me but I had the privlege of serving the county court house back in the 70’s and 80′ I taveled your area representing Office Equipment Co. Sold a lot of office equipment and supplies to Eileen and the rest of the fine people in the court house. I still see Duane once in awhile at the register of deeds. Brings back some good memories. Eileen was a great Auditor and person. I enjoyed our visits every two weeks.
My thoughts and Prayers are with you at this time. May God Bless and comfort you at the time of your loss.
Dick Gooding
I was surprised to read of Eileen’s obituary in the newspaper. She is a cousin to my former husband Dennis Ernesti, who was also related to the Vopats. I worked with Eileen at the County Courthouse – I was a roving secretary for the Auditor, Treasurer,and Assessor offices. I even mowed once in awhile. I enjoyed getting to know Eileen. I will always remember her typewriter with the long carriage. She could have had an electric one but preferred what she had. My sympathies to the family.
Karol Kay and Steve,
I heard the sad news from Royal. I treasure the memories of summer time at the home place. My mother (Marie Ernesti Smith) and I so looked forward to the trip to Highmore each summer for the visits with her Vopat cousins.
I am happy to have seen you and Eileen on our last trip through Highmore.
No matter what the age or health of a parent is….. the loss is great.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Joann Smith
I want the family to know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I enjoyed working with Eileen over the years. She was always concientious and friendly. You have my regards.
Fr.Dave