Pauline Catherine Eastep

Pauline Catherine Eastep was born Feb. 6, 1921, in Carlinville, Ill., to Paul and Catherine (Muir) Zachar.  She attended Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minn., and St. Michael’s School of Nursing in Grand Forks, N.D., where she earned her BSRN degree.  Upon graduation she moved to Hot Springs, S.D., and was employed at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center.  

Shortly after World War II she met and married Eugene Eastep who owned Eastep’s Shoes and Western Wear. After having her children in the early 1950s Pauline became a stay at home mom. She was truly a domestic goddess and engineer, from building a tree house to saddling the children’s pony, growing a garden and cleaning all the wild game her husband brought home to cooking it perfectly every time.  She worked in the store when Gene and Uncle John were hunting. She sewed all her own clothes and hemmed pants and suits for the store. 

Being raised on a northern Minnesota farm was obvious from all of the talents of self sufficiency she displayed. She was a great partner with her husband and the greatest mom any children could ever have. 

Pauline was a member of St. Anthony’s Alter Society, Catholic Daughters and was both a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader.

On April 8, 2010, Pauline died at Custer Regional Senior Care in Custer, S.D. She was 89 years old.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Eugene Eastep of Hot Springs; son, Ron Eastep of Keystone, S.D.; daughter, Janet (Brian) Boyer of Custer; grandson, Johnathan Stahl of Custer; and sister, Josephine Robinson of Fergus Falls, MNinn.

Wake was held April 12 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs. Funeral services were April 13 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church with Father Peter Kovarik officiating. Interment followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs. 

Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.