Estelle L. Stuart

Estelle L. Stuart, 87, of Redfield, SD, formerly Aberdeen, SD, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Avantara Redfield Nursing Home.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel, with Brianna VonEye, Estelle’s granddaughter, officiating.

A time for fellowship and refreshments will follow the service at Schriver’s Memorial Fellowship Center.

Burial will be at the First Presbyterian Cemetery in Flandreau, SD.

Visitation will be from 5-7 on Thursday, September 4, at Schriver’s Memorial Chapel. Visitation continues one hour before the service.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com. Services will be recorded and posted on Schriver’s website following the service.

Estelle Louise Prue was born on July 7, 1938, in Milwaukee, WI, to Arthur and Josephine (Eastman) Prue. She lost her mother in 1944; she and her siblings were then raised by her maternal grandparents, Francis and Estelle (Bradley) Eastman. Estelle grew up in Holland, MN, graduating from Pipestone High School in Pipestone, MN. After high school, she attended Haskell Junior Indian College in Lawrence, KS. After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, looking for a job.

Estelle was married to John Barker. They lived in Maryland and then moved to Concord, NH. Later, she moved back to Holland, MN. She moved her three daughters to Flandreau, SD, where she was employed at the Flandreau Indian School in the Administration Department.

Estelle married Kenneth Stuart on July 15, 1977, and they moved to Aberdeen, SD, where she was employed as a Personnel Specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1990, she moved to Juneau, AK, where she retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1994, and then returned to Aberdeen.

Estelle was an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe. She played the piano for churches throughout her life, having had only six months of lessons. Estelle was an outstanding bowler and was a member of the Aberdeen Bowling Hall of Fame. She loved watching sports, especially the NBA, and was a big Utah Jazz fan. Estelle loved to iron clothes; she was well known for ironing numerous clothes for special family events. Estelle was a great seamstress and enjoyed crocheting. She loved to do jumbles and crossword puzzles!

Estelle is survived by her daughters: Helen (Danny) Rose of Flandreau, SD, Alice (Lucion) LaFontaine of Aberdeen, SD, and Laura O’Neal of Nashville, TN; stepdaughter, Elizabeth (Johnny) Stuart of Portage, MI; grandchildren: Brianna (Jamie) VonEye, Jason (Shannon) Wunderlin, Brandon (Janelle) Rose, Terri (Chad) Miller, Danielle O’Neal, Kenneth (Taylor) O’Neal, Lacy LaFontaine, Brant (Leah) Rose, and Brice (Jaymes) Zollner; great-grandchildren: Bradley VonEye, Owen VonEye, Brody VonEye, Ian VonEye, Talon Miller, Cohan Miller, Dylan VonEye, Eli Miller, Greyson Rose, Tenley Rose, Calleigh VonEye, Channing Parker, Armani Zollner, Griffin Rose, Hudson Rose, and two future great-grandchildren; sister, Laurel Eastman of Clarksville, TN; and brother-in-law Carroll (Kay) Stuart of Park City, UT.

Estelle was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; parents; grandparents; great-granddaughter Riley VonEye; and brothers, Warren Eastman and Arthur Eastman.