Eleanor Marie Anderson, Middle River, MN, age 95 passed away on Tuesday July 18, 2017 at Life Care Manor, Greenbush, MN with her loving family by her side.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM in First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Reverend Mark Matthews Officiating. Burial will be held at Spruce Valley Cemetery, rural Middle River following the lunch.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, 5 – 8 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service at First Lutheran Church in Middle River with Sheryl Carriere Officiating, and also one hour prior to the service on Wednesday.

Eleanor Marie Anderson was born October 2, 1921 to Gustav and Emma (Beck) Peterson near Kathryn, ND. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

As a child she lived in Milwaukee, WI and Hastings, ND. Her mother died when she was 12 years old. While her dad found work during the Great Depression, Eleanor stayed with her Uncle George and Aunt Agnes Thoreson near Kathryn, ND. On June 28, 1936 she moved with her dad and sister to Middle River by bus carrying only a small trunk of their belongings. She finished school and graduated May 30, 1940 from Middle River High School. Eleanor married Lloyd Anderson on September 30, 1940 at the First Lutheran parsonage in Middle River. During WWII she worked for Boeing as a "Rosie the Riveter" in Seattle, WA making $0.62 an hour as an assembler for the Bombbay doors on airplanes.

After returning to Middle River, Eleanor worked many years for Milton Lundquist and the Jesme brothers as a clerk and bookkeeper for Gambles. In 1968 she retired. She and Lloyd raised their granddaughter, Jana, when Susan died in 1973.

Eleanor was a member of First Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and was active in Ladies Aide and quilting. Eleanor loved to travel, Quebec City and Colorado were favorite trips. She and Lloyd often traveled to Seattle to visit family, many times accompanied by their granddaughters.  She enjoyed cross-stitch and making quilts for family members, reading the daily paper and books, watching Wheel of Fortune.  Eleanor was an avid sports fan of the Minnesota Twins and UND hockey and spent quiet time watching the birds feed from her window. She would probably say the best invention made was her WebTV so she could email friends and family!

She is survived by son, Dale (Lois) Anderson of Middle River; granddaughters Jana (Jason) Wagner of Moorhead, MN and Heather (Erick) Field of Fruita, CO; three great grandchildren, Kolton and Karlie Wagner and Mauren Field. Son-in-law Dean (Bev) Klegstad of Middle River, one sister-in law, Emma Anderson of Middle River. Many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by infant daughter Janice, daughter Susan, husband Lloyd, sister Irene Severson and brother-in-law, Elmer.