LANSFORD – Eileen Schuppan, 84, Bottineau, formerly of Newburg and Westhope, died Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at a Bottineau nursing home. 

Eileen Schuppan was born on March 10, 1942, to Melvin and Lila (Blowers) Helgeson on the homestead of John Lee, in Lansford.  At age one, Eileen and family moved to the Helgeson family homestead northeast of Lansford.  Eileen attended Montrose Township rural school through the eighth grade.  Eileen then went and lived with her sister, Leona, and her husband, Ted, in Mohall, so she could attend Mohall High School.  Eileen attended Mohall High School up to her senior year. 

Eileen was twice married.  She met her first husband, Rodny, at Christmas time 1958, and was married to Rodny October 9, 1959.  Eileen had her first child, Darwin, and her second child, Sharon.  Eileen and Rodny lived in Newburg for several years in two different trailer houses and finally on their farmstead that they purchased in 1965.  Eileen and Rodny’s marriage ended and she met her second husband, Chuck Schuppan, in 1970, and married Chuck soon thereafter.  Eileen’s third child, Charles, was born, and then her fourth child, Tim. 

Eileen had several occupations throughout her life:  homemaker, and mother obviously, but she also worked at Sund Manufacturing from 1976 to 1984 (she remembered her first Christmas bonus from Sund’s was $100 and she was very happy to get it!).  From 1984 to 1990, Eileen had different occupations including working at the Schepp family greenhouse and other part-time jobs.  In 1990, Eileen completed her training for her Certified Nursing Assistant license and started working at the Westhope retirement home where she worked from 1990 to 2005 upon which she retired.  Eileen continued to frequent the Westhope home for another 4 years as her mother, Lila, was a resident and Eileen would visit her daily during that time. 

Eileen lived in the Newburg and Westhope communities for most of her life, living in Newburg from 1960 to 1992 and then in Westhope from 1992 to 2023.  She moved first to the Mohall retirement home and then to the Bottineau retirement home about a year later.  One of Eileen’s proudest accomplishments was purchasing her “little white house” in Westhope where she lived for 30 years.  

Eileen’s favorite past-times were reading western novels and watching westerns on TV, she was usually up for a game of cards (whist, pinochle, Uno and Skip-Bo with the grandkids).  Her children and her grandchildren were her most cherished things in life.  She believed strongly in giving her children the freedom to make their own mistakes, but also the requirement they had to deal with those decisions.  Sometimes we rewarded her with good decisions, and sometimes a few head scratchers as well!  But we knew through it all, we had unconditional love, and a mother with a listening ear who was always there to listen, not always provide guidance, but she was a great listener, and that was something we came to cherish in her later years. 

Family:  Eileen’s legacy is that of four children, Darwin (Melissa), Sharon (Mark), Charles (Kristen), and Timothy; ten grandchildren, Keely, Desirae, JD, Paige, Erica, Calleigh, Leilani, Logan, Te’a and Wyatt; and 10 great-grandchildren, Rhona, Averie, Lux, Carter, Alex, Eric, Marcas, Annabelle, Harper and Barrett. 

Eileen was preceded in death by:  her parents, Melvin and Lila (Blowers) Helgeson; brothers, Kenneth and Donald Helgeson; and sisters, Gladys (perished as an infant), and Leona Medler. 

Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 22, 2026, at Trinity United Church, Lansford. 

Burial:  Lansford Cemetery, Lansford. 

Visitation: 9:30 a.m. until the service time, Monday, at the church. Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com.  
(Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)