Eleanor Mae Derouin, 78, died Thursday, March 3, 2005 at her home, of natural causes.

Eleanor Mae Cardinal was born on May 18, 1926 in Red Lake Falls, MN, the daughter of Arthur and Alice (Marleau) Cardinal. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith and attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Red Lake Falls. Following high school she moved to the West Coast and worked for the Telephone Company. Eleanor moved back to Red Lake Falls and worked for Garden Valley Telephone Company in Erskine. She also worked as a waitress and in a jewelry store and later cooked at St. Joseph School. Later, she worked at the Red Lake County Sheriffs Department as a dispatcher, retiring in the mid 1980s.

Eleanor was united in marriage to John Derouin on May 1, 1952. The couple lived on the Range in Minnesota for awhile, until they moved to Red Lake Falls.

She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Eleanor volunteered at St. Joseph School, was a Eucharistic Minister, sacristan, and folded the Sunday bulletins for years. Eleanor was a Women of Faith. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Crookston, MN, Catholic Daughters in Red Lake Falls and the American Legion Auxiliary. Eleanor was one of the founders of the Blue Line Concessions and Blue Line Club and was an outstanding All Athletic Sports Fan. She loved to sew and cook, needlepoint, embroidery and enjoyed making quilts.

Eleanor is survived by her children: Dan (Patricia) Derouin of Hallock, MN, Tom (Deb) Derouin of Red Lake Falls, MN, Judy (Bob) Wieland of Pittsburgh, PA, Ray (Lynette) Derouin of St. Hilaire, MN and Chuck (Annette) Derouin of Willmar, MN; grandchildren: Bryce, Janae, Jill and Tyler Derouin, Alissa, Becky, Andy, and Joey Wieland, Bethany Derouin and Anthony and Carly Derouin; brothers: Elmer Pee Wee of Red Lake Falls, MN and Norman Butch of Crookston, MN; sisters: Alice Delage of Grand Forks, ND, Lou Theroux of Vancouver, WA, Noella Melbye of Crookston, MN and Ethel Herrenbreck of Albany, CA; and several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, on October 6, 1996; and infant daughter, Mary Derouin; her parents; and brothers: Phil, Art, Ernie, Paul and George.