Elaine "Denise" (Miles) Goodface, 76, of Flandreau, SD and formerly of Aberdeen, SD passed away, Tuesday, April 19, 2022,  peacefully at Select Specialty Hospital, Sioux Falls surrounded by family. She fought the good fight after battling a brain bleed for 2 months. Denise was born on January 24, 1946, in Flandreau to Leroy and Elaine (Traversie) Miles. She was an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, also a lineal descendant of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. She graduated from Flandreau High School in 1964 and attended college in Vermillion, SD. She devoted her career working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (HIS) until retiring in 2004. One of her proudest accomplishments was being one of three Personnel Officers throughout the nation. When attending meetings, she would choose to drive in order to take her daughter so, she too, could experience other parts of the country. Her employment allowed her to live in all corners of the United States, including, Flandreau, SD; Denver, CO; Minneapolis, MN, Cherokee, NC; Juneau, AK, Aberdeen, SD. She met numerous people along the way, and many became life-long friends.

Her pride and joy of life began in 1967 with the birth of her daughter, Yvette. Then again in 1988 with the birth of her son, Darren. Denise was an extraordinary mother while being the sole provider for her children. Just when she thought her love couldn't grow any greater, she started to have grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was so tickled each time she heard her family was growing. After her great granddaughter was born, she said now she felt complete to finally have a "great". She was quite proud to be a mother, grandma and great grandma. She loved to tell stories of "back in the day" which would lead to laughing and her contagious laugh caused you to laugh as if it had just happened. She kept in touch with many on her flip-phone and her calls and texts will be missed by many. One of her favorite outings included playing on the same buffalo machine at the Royal River Casino where she made numerous friends with the staff and customers. She kept abreast of world news on TV, read the newspaper, play bingo, watched the game show network, did crossword puzzles, was an avid Scrabble player, spent many a day going to rummage sales for things she might need one day, and always had a non-fiction book open for a good read. She thoroughly enjoyed watching her granddaughter, Sapphire play soccer, as well as watch college and national sports teams on TV. Her many stories and antics are known widely by the family. Denise was a member of the Elks and Moose Lodge in Aberdeen.

Denise survived by her daughter, Yvette (John) Burshiem, Flandreau, SD; son, Darren (Shawnee) Ghost, Aberdeen, SD; six grandchildren, Brittney Wilson (Rowden Schipper), Flandreau, SD, Jon "Little Jon" Burshiem, Flandreau, SD; Sapphire Robertson and Xander Ghost both of Aberdeen, SD, Geno (Erica) Burshiem, Sioux Falls, SD; Forestte Taylor, Flandreau, SD; three great grand-children, Amelia Elaine Kay Schipper, Flandreau, SD, Brooks and Briggs Burshiem, Sioux Falls, SD; siblings, Roxee Johnson, Flandreau, SD; Renee Jones, Flandreau, SD; Fred Jones, Bozeman, MT; Kim (Steve) Patterson, Flandreau, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Walter and Elaine (Traversie) Jones and Leroy Miles; and siblings: Robert Miles, Viola (Miles) Ross, Mona Miles, Leslie Anne "Tez" (Miles) Tso; nephew: Eugene F. Tso.

Condolences may be sent to Yvette Burshiem at P.O. Box 88 Flandreau, SD 57028.

The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to Sanford USD Medical Center and Select Specialty Hospital staff for her care.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Monday, April 25, 2022 at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau with burial in First Presbyterian Cemetery, Flandreau. Visitation begins at 4:00 pm Sunday with a 5:00 pm prayer service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau.