Dakota "Coty" Stensland, 87, of Belle Fourche, SD, formerly of Buffalo, SD, passed away on May 3, 2024 at the Belle Estates in Belle Fourche, SD.

Funeral Services for Coty will be on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the Harding County Rec Center in Buffalo, SD.   Pastor Becky Piper will officiate with Burial to follow in the Buffalo Cemetery.  There will be a Family and Friends Service on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at the Harding County Rec Center beginning at 7:00 pm.

Services will be live-streamed:

https://www.facebook.com/stacy.burns.374?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Dakota "Coty" Lee Stensland was born to Maurice and Margaret Brengle on November 9, 1936, in Hot Springs, SD.  She was the second of three daughters.  Because of the drought, the family had moved their sheep to Smithwick.  They lived in Hot Springs where Farrol attended first grade.  The family moved back to the ranch south of Buffalo, where the girls attended Hayden Country School.  Coty graduated from Buffalo High School in 1954.  Coty was united in marriage to Gene Stensland on January 23, 1954 before Gene was deployed to Germany.  Coty worked at the bank that summer before joining him.  When Gene was discharged from the Army the summer of 1955, they moved to the ranch near Ludlow.  They were married for 63 years.  Over the next 13 ½ years they had 5 children.  Coty always kept a spotless house, was a good cook and raised gardens.  She sewed dresses for 4 girls and for years, brushed "ringlets" on their many heads.  She finally had enough of that and took the girls into the kitchen, one at a time, for haircuts; Pixie Cuts!  There were some tears but we soon learned that it was much easier for all of us.  After a gap of 8 ½ years their son Ryan came along and the family was complete.  There were fun times fishing, making ice cream and pulling taffy with neighbors, holidays, rodeos and singing.  We loved to hear her play the piano, especially "Under the Double Eagle".  Coty also loved to dance.  She and Gene both enjoyed attending high school sporting events.  They also loved to visit.  Give them a cup of coffee or a cold adult beverage and people.  They were both good at telling jokes.  Halloween and April Fools Day were almost too much fun.  Coty was a member of the last confirmation class at the original Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ludlow.  She was confirmed on April 24, 1966 alongside her mother-in-law Nina and Robert Anderson.  She taught Sunday School and Bible School when her kids were young.  She was a worrier.  The grandkids learned early not to get too wild for fear they'd get hurt….and they heard about it.  Her "Quiet Time" was going out to the garden or going to her bedroom in the evenings to read.  After Gene's passing in 2017, Coty moved to Peaceful Prairie, Edgewood Estates and then Belle Estates until her time of passing.

Coty is survived by her son Ryan, four daughters; Lori (Tom) Wilson, Kim (Dan) Johnson, Leslie Strand (Corey Buer) and Stacy (Tom) Burns, 14 grandchildren, 30 + great grandchildren, one sister; Maureen Fowler, one brother-in-law, Mial Stensland and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, parents, Maurice and Margaret, parents-in-law; Owen and Nina, sister Farrol (Don) Thompson, brother-in-law, Leet Fowler, two sisters-in-law, Gladys (Neilo) Oja and Susan Stensland and one grandson, Vaughn Wilson and one great granddaughter Kaylee Wilson.