Redfield: Eleanor Marie Frankenstein, 93, of Redfield died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, on her father's birthday, at Golden Living Center in Redfield.
Her funeral will be Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Redfield. The Rev. Brian Wasmoen will officiate.
After a time for lunch and fellowship, the burial will be in the Tulare Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m., with the family present starting at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield.
Memorials preferred for Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
Eleanor was born Nov. 22, 1919, in Swea City, Iowa, to William and Hannah Anderson. Her parents, Pop and Mom as they were known, had emigrated from Sweden prior to their marriage. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters. Eleanor was the third oldest. William Anderson was a farmer and relocated to Orient on Jan. 1, 1924. Eleanor was confirmed in the Orient Lutheran Church and graduated as the salutatorian at Orient High School. Upon completion of one year at Northern State Teachers College in 1939, she was certified to teach school. During the next three years, she taught in one-room country schools.
She married Willis Roger Frankenstein on Sept. 25, 1942, at her parents' home southeast of Redfield. To this union four children were born: Mildred (who died as an infant), Ronald, James and Arlen (who died of cystic fibrosis prior to age 2).
Eleanor and Willis lived on the family farm for 47 years. Willis died Dec. 13, 1989, but Eleanor continued to live on the farm, care for her garden, babysit the grandchildren and do all the various jobs grandmas are asked to do.
Eleanor enjoyed playing cards with friends and relatives, baking buns and white cakes and helping her sons. She was proud of her Swedish heritage and had the opportunity to travel to Sweden on two occasions and visit her many first cousins.
Eleanor enjoyed the Loyal Workers Extension Club and was active in the Love Circle at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. In June 2010, she moved to Golden Living Center.
Eleanor is survived by her two sons: Ronald (Anita) of Redfield and James (LaDonna) of Redfield; three sisters: Helen Eckman of Minneapolis, Martha Hawkinson of Denver and Ruth Jessen of Redfield; one brother, Lennart Anderson of Redfield; four sisters-in-law: Patty Anderson of Redfield, Hazel Anderson of Aberdeen, Ida Anderson of Pierre and Margorie Frankenstein of Minneapolis; seven grandchildren: Sara (Lew) Hoyt of Rapid City, Wesley (Danene) Frankenstein of Redfield, Ryan (Beth) Frankenstein of Sheldon, Iowa, Matthew (Jamie) Frankenstein of Redfield, Karen (Ian) Rose of Groton, Jason Frankenstein of Rochester, Minn., and Andrew Frankenstein of Redfield; 11 (soon to be one more) great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her loving husband, Willis; two infant children: Mildred and Arlen; her parents, William and Hannah; brothers: Carl, Philip, Paul and Wallace; five brothers-in-law: LeRoy Frankenstein, Paul Wolf, Harold Eckman, Adrian Hawkinson and Wayne Jessen; and one sister-in-law, Diana Anderson.
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