Eileen Katherine Brunson was born January 18, 1932, the oldest child of John and Martha (Kapsa) Brunson at New Underwood, SD, and died July 20, 2015, after her long journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Eileen grew up in Plainview, SD, in rural Meade County. She was a child of the Great Depression and World War II. She attended high school at St. Martin's Academy in Sturgis, SD, graduating in 1950. She continued her education at St. John McNamara School of Nursing graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1953.

She married Martin Bachand following graduation and they made their home in the Bear Butte Valley for twenty eight years. Four children were born to this union; Michael John in 1954, Mary Kathleen in 1958, Laurel Ann in 1959, and Martha Jean in 1964.

Eileen moved to Sturgis, SD, in 1980, and was divorced in 1982. She married Vernon Lecy on January 4, 1986, and moved to the Rebbe Ranch Estates in rural Spearfish, SD. Following Vern's death in 2008, she moved back to Sturgis in 2009.

Eileen was a life time member of the Catholic Church. She was a member of the church altar society, the church choirs, singing for weddings and funerals in the churches she attended in Sturgis and Spearfish. Eileen was a life member the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and active member of NARFE holding offices of State Vice President and President. She began her professional career as a registered nurse at the VA at Ft. Meade, SD, and continued for thirty-six years. She was honored by the Sturgis Zonta Club as 1983 Woman of Achievement.

Due to failing health from ALS, she sold her Sturgis home and moved to Tualatin, OR, to be near her daughter, Marty Campbell, and the ALS clinic located in the Portland area.

She is survived by three children, Mike (Nancy) Bachand, Laurel (Brad) Moore, and Marty (Scott) Campbell; stepchildren, Robin (Jeannine) Lecy, Daniel (Dixie) Lecy, and Becky (Jim) Kemmerling; sixteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as special friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Vern; her parents; her brother, Jack; and her daughter, Mary Kay.

Eileen wished to share her story about living with ALS in her book "My Journey, My Life" by Eileen Lecy, which is available at amazon.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the ALS organization in her name at: (http://web.alsa.org/goto/eileenlecy) or to St. Martin's restoration project in Sturgis, SD.

Eileen's memorial Mass will be held at Saint Francis of Assisi's Catholic Church, 1049 Howard St., Sturgis, SD, on Monday, August 17, 2015, at 10:00 AM, lunch following. Private burial will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery.