Bernadette (Bernie) Marie Stars "Inyan Wahinkpe Winyan" (Stone Arrow Woman) was born September 13th, 1959, at Rosebud Hospital, in Rosebud, South Dakota, 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, South Dakota. 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 23rd, 1978. To this union, they were blessed with 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, whom she loved dearly.

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 began her journey home to the spirit world, surrounded by her family, on September 17th, 2025.

Bernie leaves to mourn 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.

Bernie was preceded in death by 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 loved aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Bonesteel City Hall.  Burial will be in the Ponca Creek UCC Cemetery, St. Charles, SD.  There will be wake services on Thursday at the Hall.