Cloreta Eisenbraun

Cloreta Eisenbraun, age 88, Kadoka, S.D., died on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at her home in Kadoka.

Cloreta Riggins was born in Kingsley, Iowa, on Sept. 11, 1927, to Floyd and Maire (Dugan) Riggins. She was the eighth of 11 children.

Cloreta started school in Union Center, Iowa. In the early 1930s, the family moved to Bear Creek, west of Wanblee on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The family moved separately as there was not enough money for all to come at the same time.

Cloreta attended Garner School first through eighth grade. She started high school in Wanblee, then transferred to Interior and graduated from Kadoka High School in 1946. She then attended Springfield Southern Normal. She took her state examination to receive a teaching certificate in 1946. Later, she graduated from Black Hills State College with a bachelor of science in education degree.

She began her teaching career at Sand Hill School in Washabaugh County.

Cloreta was united in marriage to Marvin Eisenbraun on June 21, 1947, in Kadoka. To this union were born four children, Randy, Nancy, Paul and John. They made their home on the farm-ranch in Washabaugh County, where they resided until September of 2007 when they moved to Kadoka. After Marvin passed in 2009, Cloreta went back to teaching until 2014.

Cloreta was a wife, mother, farmhand and teacher. Over the years she taught 63 years. All years were on the reservation. Her pot of gold was listening to a child read. 

She loved gardening and her John Deere tractor. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, library board, a volunteer at the Wanblee Church and other events in Wanblee. Wanblee was always home to her. 

Cloreta told her children, “Let me live until I die.” That she did. She was still boss. Cloreta did it her way.

She is survived by three children, Randy (Laurie) Eisenbraun, Gordon, Neb., Nancy (Rex) Totton, Kadoka, and John (Lesa) Eisenbraun, Rapid City; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Faye Eisenbraun, Philip; a special friend, Hellen Good, Kadoka; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Cloreta was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; one son, Paul; a grandson, Shane Reutter; her parents; seven brothers, Cecil, Rex, Lynden, Jerry Lee, Wayne, “Tuffy” and Harold; and two sisters, Ercell Albin and Valene Perault.

A memorial is established.

Services were held Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, at the City Auditorium in Kadoka with Pastor Gus Craven officiating.

Interment was at the Kadoka Cemetery in Kadoka.

Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Chapel of Kadoka.