Bernadette Stars

Funeral services for Bernadette (Bernie) Marie Stars “Inyan Wahinkpe” (Stone Arrow Woman) were held at 1 p.m., on Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Bonesteel City Hall in Bonesteel, SD, with Pastor Ken James officiating. Music for the service was provided by Michelle Anderson on organ and Melissa Marshall-Zephier and Lorenzo Stars, vocalists. The Drum Group also performed. Casket bearers were Wyatt Pickner, Wiley Pickner, Sonny Escalanti, Loren LaPointe, Londel Seaboy, Dan Snyder, Arlene Andrews, Barney Andrews, Barron Andrews, and Junior Andrews.

Stacey Tiger-LaCompte, Brandi Fairbanks, Elvonna Begay, Gloria Merriam, Brenda Andrews, Barb Timber, Judy Hanson, Pam Stars, Kasey Pickner, Maria Leader Charge, April Fallis, Autumn Fallis, Lonna Andrews, Lonnie Andrews, Margie Newling, Dorothy LaPointe, Jessica Reed, Eldon Reed, UCC Dakota Association, BCU and all of her former coworkers were honorary casket bearers.

Interment was at Ponca Creek UCC Cemetery in St. Charles, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Bernadette Stars was born September 13, 1959, at Rosebud Hospital in Rosebud, SD, to Gideon Beare and Donna Andrews. Bernie grew up in the Milks Camp community and attended St. Charles grade school and Rosebud Boarding School. She attended Bonesteel High School for a few years before transferring and graduating from T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, SD. After graduation, Bernie started working at Milks Camp Industries. During this time, she began dating Donald Stars, Sr. They began a life together and were united in marriage on September 23, 1978. To this union, they had five children: Jered, DJ, Joel, Alana, and Erin.

Throughout her career, Bernie loved working with children. She and Donnie moved to Pierre in 1979, where she began working at the Pierre Indian Learning Center as a dorm parent. She continued working there for 11 years in various roles, including as a behavioral management supervisor and as an intensive residential guidance counselor. Bernie held many other jobs that she loved and through which she made lifelong friends, including the Pierre Public Schools, Oahe Child Development Center, Wakpa Sica Historical Society, Dakota Emporium, Oahe Inc., and Avera Medical. Then, after a short employment period with South Dakota Urban Indian Health, she retired due to developing health issues. While Bernie was passionate about her work, her favorite role was as a grandmother. She has two grandchildren, Laila and Elijah.

In 2024, Bernie was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She underwent surgery in which a tumor was successfully removed. About a year later, she began experiencing debilitating pain and discovered that her cancer had spread.

After a long and courageous battle, Bernie passed away, surrounded by her family, on September 17, 2025. Preceding her in death were her son Joel Stars; parents Gideon Beare and Donna Andrews; paternal grandparents Reuben and Fannie Beare; maternal grandparents Jesse Sr. and Mercy Andrews; brothers Jeffrey Beare and Bernard Beare; and hunka brother Wes Andrews, as well as many other aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Bernie is survived by her husband Donald Stars, Sr; mother-in-law Opal Stars; children, Jered Stars, DJ Stars, Alana Stars, and Erin Stars; sister Cheryl Beare; brother Leonard Beare; hunka brother Londel Seaboy; grandchildren Laila Stars and Elijah Stars; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles as well as many other family and friends.