Eleanor Baska, 85, died on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at the Heritage Health Care Center Alzheimers Wing in Globe, AZ.

Memorial service will be at 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Pastor Aaron Zuch officiating.

Eleanor M. Shaver was born on May 5, 1923, in St. Thomas, ND, the daughter of Harold and Alice (Green) Shaver. She married Robert R. Baska October 1, 1942. The family moved around North Dakota a lot in their early years, settling in Clark, SD in the mid 50s. They lived there until June of 1963 when they moved to Bottineau, ND. Eleanor worked at a few housekeeping jobs until she was hired by the Good Samaritan Nursing Home. While her children were growing up she was active in the things her kids were doingScouts, 4-H, and the various activities of the church. Eleanor made most of the clothes for her children.

She moved to Thief River Falls in 1980 and worked at K-Mart until the time she could retire. Eleanor was better known to many people as The K-Mart Granny . In 1988 she moved to Globe, AZ, where her youngest daughter lived. She loved gardening, and flower arranging and belonged to the Manzanita Garden Club. She enjoyed helping her daughter with the horses, and loved all animals, dogs and cats and orphaned lambs. Eleanor enjoyed traveling and singing in the church choir. She loved children and did a lot of babysitting both in Thief River Falls and after moving to Globe.

In her years in Thief River Falls Eleanor learned to do machine embroidery and made many monogrammed towel sets for people. She was always looking to learn new things. She and a friend decided to take tatting lessons, and she made stationery, little framed pictures and Christmas ornaments. She also enjoyed collecting frogs and hummingbirds and loved visiting with family and friends.

She leaves behind in loving memory her daughters, Beverly (Gary) Finke of Thief River Falls, MN and Kathleen (David) Speer of Globe, AZ; son, Miles R. Baska of Taylor, TX; sisters, Marge (Valerian) Chyle of Park River, ND, and Norma (Jack) Gust of Fargo, ND; two grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Baska; brothers, Cliff, Frank and Robert Shaver; and one sister, Lois (Bob) McGraw.



ORGANIST: John Folland
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: In The Garden, Beyond The Sunset and My Hope is Built on Nothing Less