Eunice L. Breland

Eunice L. Breland, 96, of Miller, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Miller Good Samaritan Society.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miller with Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating. Burial will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Letcher, SD.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the funeral service.

Eunice L. Runestad was born to H.R. and Emma (Seal) Runestad at Mt. Vernon, S.D., on December 16, 1929. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Trinity Lutheran, Letcher, S.D. Eunice attended Davison County schools, Mt. Vernon High School, and Notre Dame Junior Academy in Mitchell, S.D., to receive her teaching certificate; she called herself a “7 week wonder.” She taught for several years in Davison County schools.

On June 22, 1952, she married Irvin O. Breland at Trinity Lutheran of rural Letcher, S.D. They farmed her father’s land for 10 years before purchasing the Storla Store, which they owned and operated for several years.

In 1975, they moved to Miller, S.D., where Eunice was employed at The Good Samaritan Home, the Fairway grocery store, and was a bookkeeper at Hand County Memorial Hospital until she retired in 1991.

Eunice was active in the Lutheran church and belonged to Trinity Lutheran in Miller at the time of her death. She was well known for her quick wit and always called herself a “crabby Norwegian.”  She had a lifelong love of chocolate.

She is survived by her four sons and three daughters: Jack (Tracey) of Harrisburg; Steve of Byron, MN; Sherril (Paul) Koeck, Miller; Linda (Royce) Blackburn, Miller; Sandra (Brent) Taylor, Brandon; John (Lori), Miller; and Thomas (Renee) of Cannon Falls, MN.

Grandchildren include Anne (Tom) Webbles, Joshua Koeck, Jesse Koeck, Teresa (Jason) Gilk, Jaime (Mason) Russell, Laura (Bret) Beilke, Lucas (Kate) Blackburn, Ryan (Kristi) Lewellen, Joseph Lewellen, Morgan (Kyle) Taylor, Cody Breland, Cory (Shae) Breland, Emma (Colby Werdel) Breland, Emily Breland, Jason Breland, Suzanne (Robert) Carroll, Michael (Ashley) Hanson, and Elizabeth (Kenneth) Hanson Bush; along with 19 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marilyn (James) Berry; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers and their wives, Harlan (Ora) Runestad and Merle (Velma) Runestad; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bob and Annabelle Swanson.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the dedicated employees at Good Samaritan Society for the compassionate care they gave Eunice.

Memorials can be directed to Hands of Hope, PO Box 171, Miller, SD 57362, or Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Association, 39602 243rd St., Letcher, SD 57359.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Eunice’s arrangements.