Eleanor Jane (Roelofs) Ledeboer

Eleanor Jane Ledeboer, age 97, of Prinsburg, passed from this life into her eternal life on October 22, at Brookdale Senior Living in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, at First Christian Reformed Church.  Interment will be at Holland Township Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are with the Tri-County Funeral Home.  www.tricountyfuneral.com

She was born May 20,1925 to William and Ida Roelofs on the family farm near Prinsburg, MN.  She was baptized and made her profession of faith at 1st Prinsburg Christian Reformed Church. She attended Prinsburg Christian School and then went to Clara City high school for 3 years.  During her senior year, Eleanor moved to Willmar where she was a nanny and attended Willmar high school graduating in 1943.

After high school she moved to Grand Rapids, MI to work in the factories because of a shortage of male workers due to the war.  In 1945 her mother died so Eleanor moved home to help with her younger siblings.  She attended St. Cloud Teachers' College and taught school for 4 years in the country schools located near Prinsburg.  In 1950 she married Donald Ledeboer.  They were blessed with 4 children.

Donald and Eleanor lived in Denver, CO and Willmar, MN before moving in 1958 to a farm site near Raymond. They attended Raymond Christian Reformed church where Eleanor enjoyed attending women's Bible studies and often led the lessons. Eleanor was a devoted wife and mother.  She had a large garden and was always busy sewing, knitting and crocheting. She sewed most all of her clothes and many clothing items for her children.  Once her children were all in school, she went to work at Wonderalls in Willmar, sewing childrens clothing.  Later she worked at the Christian Rest home in the housekeeping and laundry department.

Donald died in 1980 and Eleanor learned to be very independent, taking care of her house and yard. She was a lifelong learner and reader.  She was adamant that she has the entire volume of World Book Encyclopedias with her so that she could look things up and continue to learn.  She loved playing games, Sudoku, puzzles, Jeopardy, and playing Bingo. Most of all she loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She was very happy to learn of the birth of her most recent great grandson who was born just 3 days before her death. She prayed that the Holy Spirit would work mightily in each of their hearts. In her final years she looked forward to spending eternity in heaven.

She is survived by her children: Galen (Peggy) Ledeboer of Springfield, Virginia, Mary Ledeboer of Grapevine TX, Mark (Yvonne) Ledeboer of Coos Bay, Oregon and Kathy (Bob) Sportel of Prinsburg, 8 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, two brothers, Wayne Roelofs of Willmar and Harvey (Betty) Roelofs of Washington, two sisters, Hilma Brace and Mavis Hadder of Michigan, brothers-in-law, Bud Ledeboer of Irving TX and Clarence (Janet) Ledeboer of Richfield, MN and sister-in-law, Lois Cook of Prinsburg and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald, her son Robert, and her brother Ivan Roelofs.

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