Regina Stella (Gray Eagle) Blue Coat (Waste Chante Win)

The funeral for Regina Blue Coat, 86, of On The Tree will be at 9:00 a.m. MT on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the United Church of Christ in Eagle Butte. Rev. Ken James and Rev. Pauline Webb will be officiating.

Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. MT at the Black Hills National Cemetery under the direction of Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge on Friday.

Family and friends will gather at 6:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at the 2-mile junction west of Eagle Butte to follow in procession to the church for a prayer service from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a meal to follow.

Regina Blue Coat passed away on October 10, 2021, in Eagle Butte. Due to COVID restrictions masks will be required at attendance.

Regina was born on August 1, 1935 to Moses and Nellie (Makes Trouble) Grey Eagle on Firesteel Creek north of Firesteel. She shared her early life with two brothers and two sisters — Benedict, Linus, Seraphine and adopted daughter Eunice.

Regina attended Pierre Indian School and Old Cheyenne Agency. She worked as a seamstress in her early years and that led to working in private residences doing everything from designing clothes to repairing drapes, curtains, and all things fabric. She also worked at a quilting factory. She liked breaking horses to ride by using trust, love and preferring to ride bareback until the horse was docile and trusting her.

Regina met Norman Blue Coat and after some courting, and some life changes from Norman, they were married on December 7, 1962. They lived many places while Norman fenced and worked cattle eventually ending up in Isabel. They lived north of town on a scattered site, where she supported him in his work and then eventually joining the Episcopal Church, always following him on his ministry assignments and duties.

She was an emergency person for kids that needed a place to go; during this time she watched over 200 children and the ones that remember her still sought her out and thanked her for her love and care when they stayed with her.

In 1967 they adopted a son named Louis after his grandpa and later adopted a daughter they named Mary. Regina loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and they all loved her dearly.

She is survived by her brother Benedict (Sandy) Grey Eagle of Glendive, MT, Linus (Deb) Grey Eagle of Fort Yates, ND, sister Eunice (Charlie) Moudy of Dupree, son Louie, daughters Mary and Crystal Gayle, adopted sons Austin and James, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren Jordyn, Jasmyn and Jaclyn, Jayden, Alicia Cash, Hank, Bryler, and Gilbert.

Regina was preceded in death by her parents, sister Seraphine Grey Eagle and great-grandson Jastin.